Jordan Peele’s much anticipated third film Nope sees him reunite with the star of Get Out, Daniel Kaluuya, who plays OJ Haywood. OJ, along with his sister, Emerald (Keke Palmer) inherit their father’s ranch when he is killed in a freak accident. OJ takes over the family business of training horses for TV, movies and commercials but Emerald is more interested in being famous. When OJ starts to see something unexplained in the sky, Emerald returns to the homestead.
As with so many, almost all in fact, films about aliens or supernatural creatures, Nope works much better before the UFO is seen. When it is revealed, it seems so ridiculous that it does not feel threatening. So, it is the first half of the film that works the best. The story is all over the place but it did make me curious about what was going on. Peele packs in a lot of plot. There is the usual social commentary and a subplot about a neighbour who was a child actor until a chimpanzee ran amok on the set of his sitcom. That particular story could have been the subject of a different film, especially as it feels bolted on here.
Kaluuya gives a very lowkey performance, the script pared back for him. Of the supporting cast, Michael Wincott is fun to watch as a gruff cinematographer though veteran actors Keith David and Donna Mills are underused.
I have not been losing my mind over Peele unlike a lot of critics. Like his previous features, Nope has lots of ideas and brilliant moments, as well as homages to better films – Jaws and Close Encounters being the most obvious – but does not completely satisfy as a whole.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10