“Nope” wants to scare you. It also wants to make you laugh, and occasionally it wants you to cry. Jordan Peele’s third feature film after “Get Out” and “Us” is a strange beast, a horror movie that spends as much time being funny as it does being terrifying. It is also a western, a family drama, and a story about the end of Hollywood. It is ambitious, often brilliant, and frequently exhausting.
The plot is simple in outline, though the details twist fast. In Santa Cruz, California, the Haywood family runs a horse ranch. Their father, Otis (Steven Yeun), died years ago, leaving his wife, Kate (Uzo Aduba), and his children, Ivan (Derek Lyle) and Emerald (KiKi Layne), to carry on. Ivan is the practical one, running the ranch and selling horses to wealthy clients. Emerald is the artist, working on a project she calls “Nope.” She is also terrified of storms, a fear that dates back to a childhood trauma involving her father and a flying creature.
Then the sky fills with something strange. A massive, winged creature appears over the ranch, and it is not friendly. The government sends in a team led by Joe (Mike Binder) to study the thing, but the creature has plans of its own. It wants to communicate, and it wants to be understood. What follows is a chase across the Santa Cruz Mountains, a confrontation in a soundstage, and a finale that turns the whole film inside out.
Trailer, via Universal Pictures.
The Family at the Center
The strength of “Nope” is its cast. Steven Yeun gives a career-best performance as Otis, a man who is both a loving father and a broken one. His death is never explained fully, but the weight of it hangs over the entire film. Uzo Aduba plays Kate with a weary dignity, a woman who has spent years holding everything together while her children grow further apart. KiKi Layne brings a fierce intelligence to Emerald, a young woman who is trying to find her own path while carrying the burden of her past. Derek Lyle rounds out the group as Ivan, the loyal son who wants to save the ranch but is slowly losing himself to the creature’s presence.
The chemistry between the four actors is genuine. They feel like a real family, not a collection of plot devices. When Ivan and Emerald argue about the ranch’s future, the tension feels lived-in. When Emerald asks Ivan to help her capture the creature on film, the moment carries real emotional weight. The film’s quieter scenes, where the family gathers around a table or walks through the fields, are some of its best.
The Monster and the Mystery
The creature itself is the film’s central mystery. It is not a traditional monster. It is large, winged, and capable of flight, but it also seems intelligent. It communicates through a series of clicks and whistles, and it seems to understand human speech. This is where the film gets into trouble. The creature is both terrifying and sympathetic, and the film never quite decides which it wants to be.
Peele is clearly interested in the idea of a misunderstood being. The creature is a refugee, a survivor of some unknown disaster. It wants to connect with humans, but humans are afraid of it. That is a powerful idea, and Peele explores it through Emerald’s project, which is a documentary about the creature. The film suggests that the creature is not the monster, but the fear of it.
But the film’s treatment of the creature is inconsistent. At times it is a terrifying force of nature, a storm cloud with teeth. At other times it is a gentle soul, a lost animal that just wants to be understood. The film wants you to root for it and to run from it at the same time. That tension is the film’s engine, but it also creates a problem. By the end, the creature’s actions become less mysterious and more predictable, which drains some of the film’s power.
The Western Frame
“Nope” is also a western, which is a bold choice for a horror film. The ranch setting, the horses, the open fields, the cowboys — all of it is straight out of the genre. But Peele is not interested in the classic western tropes. There are no gunfights, no showdowns, no dusty towns. Instead, the film uses the western as a way to talk about power, about the people who control the land and the people who work it.
The film is also a commentary on Hollywood. The climax takes place in a soundstage, where the creature is captured and studied. The government team, led by Joe, represents the forces that want to control the unknown. The ranch represents the natural world, the place where things are still wild. The film suggests that the studio system, with its scripts and its cameras, is a kind of trap. The characters are stuck in roles they did not choose, and the creature is trapped in a cage.
This is a heavy message, and it is delivered with wit. The film is full of jokes, many of them aimed at the absurdity of Hollywood. There is a scene where Ivan tries to sell a horse to a rich client, and the negotiation is a parody of the industry’s obsession with image. There is a moment where the creature is mistaken for a special effect, and the film laughs at the idea that reality can be faked. These jokes work, and they keep the film from becoming too grim.
The Sound Design
The sound design in “Nope” is extraordinary. The creature’s clicks and whistles are layered over a score that shifts from tense to mournful. The sound of the wind, the thunder, the horses’ hooves — all of it is mixed to create a sense of dread. The film is loud, and it is meant to be. The creature’s arrival is announced by a low hum, a sound that grows louder until the screen fills with darkness.
The sound design is also used to create moments of intimacy. There is a scene where Emerald records the creature’s sounds, and the audio is presented as a close-up of the creature’s mouth. The film makes you feel like you are inside the creature’s world. This is a technical achievement, and it sets “Nope” apart from most horror films.
The Plot Holes
“Nope” is not a perfect film. It has a number of plot holes that will frustrate viewers. The creature’s ability to fly is not fully explained. The government’s motives are vague. The ending is abrupt, and it leaves some questions unanswered. These are minor complaints, but they add up.
The film also struggles with pacing. The middle section drags, particularly after the creature’s first appearance. The chase through the mountains is exciting, but it goes on for too long. The film could have been ten minutes shorter and been stronger for it. The final act is rushed, and some of the emotional beats lose impact because they are not given enough time.
These flaws are significant, but they do not ruin the film. The strengths outweigh the weaknesses. The performances, the ideas, and the sound design are all top-tier. The film is a flawed masterpiece, and it deserves credit for trying to do something different.
The Final Act
The ending of “Nope” is a surprise, and it is a bold one. Without spoiling too much, the film subverts the expectations of the horror genre. It refuses to give the audience a clean resolution. Instead, it leaves the characters in a state of uncertainty, a state that reflects the film’s larger themes about fear and understanding.
The final shot is a close-up of the creature’s eye. It is a powerful image, and it stays with you long after the credits roll. The film ends on a note of ambiguity, which is rare in mainstream cinema. Most films want to reassure you, to give you a happy ending. “Nope” does not. It leaves you unsettled, which is the mark of a great film.
The Legacy
“Nope” is a significant film in Peele’s career. It shows a director willing to take risks, to mix genres, and to challenge audiences. The film is not for everyone. It is dark, and it is often uncomfortable. But it is also smart, funny, and deeply moving.
The film’s influence is likely to be felt for years to come. It has already inspired a generation of filmmakers who are interested in the intersection of horror and social commentary. The film’s willingness to take on Hollywood itself is a statement of confidence. Peele is not afraid to criticize the institution that made him famous.
The Numbers
- Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Release date: July 22, 2022
- Director: Jordan Peele
- Writer: Jordan Peele
- Stars: Steven Yeun, Uzo Aduba, KiKi Layne, Mike Binder
The Verdict
“Nope” is a remarkable film. It is ambitious, original, and often brilliant. It is also flawed, and it is exhausting. The film demands a lot from its audience, and it rewards those who are willing to engage with it. It is a horror film, a western, a family drama, and a commentary on power. It is all of these things at once.
The film’s score is 7.7 out of 10. That is a fair assessment. It is a very good film with a few notable flaws. The score reflects the balance between the film’s strengths and its weaknesses. It is a film that deserves attention, and it is a film that will be discussed for years to come.
If you are looking for a conventional horror film, “Nope” is not for you. If you are looking for a film that challenges you, that makes you think, and that makes you feel, then “Nope” is essential viewing. It is a film that rewards repeat watches, and it is a film that will stick with you long after you leave the theater. It is a rare thing: a horror film that is also a work of art.
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