5.0 Nope

'This movie does for cloud spotting what jaws did for swimming', the beauty of a films letterboxd comments section. If anything, such a statement couldn't be closer to the truth. As master of the horror scene, Jordan Peele this year returned with his third directorial release, while the film produced under his Monkeypaw Productions banner, saw the filmmaker once again reunite on screen with Daniel Kaluuya as well as a whole host of reputable stars. With a supporting cast consisting of the likes of Michael Wincott, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun and Brandon Perea, as such nuanced spectacle won't have you searching the clouds or skies anytime soon.

For his third doctoral release, I was profoundly surprised at how Jordan Peele keeps on re-inventing himself while still staying truthfully honest to his route's. This time it's about taking such of the horror spectacle, that made him the masterful horror director we have today, and transporting us to the vast farmlands of California, where anyone but it would seem horses know there is paranormal threat at large. If anything throughout Peele's short yet marvellous filmography of work, he has proven he's one of the finest, innovative and gifted directors working today. I'd be comfortable as far as saying that he's simply the greatest horror director currently working, although within his latest theatrical release. It's clear Peele isn't just stating his intent as a director but rather more firmly as an auteur, with this behemoth of a film, signifying what true cinema is all about.

An early nod to the classic blockbusters that first emerged, in what would become a statement of new wave cinema, Nope respectively pays homage, while rather still flexing it's muscles and reaching across both genre and sub-genre lines. Bring in all encompassing aspects and elements of horror, thriller, sci-fi and slasher, that to such an extent epitomises and only will elevate your cinematic experience. With it standing testament as the much needed and often talked about original summer blockbuster that seemingly cinema rarely offers us anymore, although that argument is possibly a whole another discussion or post in itself. Although in the same regard Nope's spectacle is only as intensely magnified, as it is by the performers and characters that inhabit it. With Daniel Kaluuya extending his ever-so growling list of accolades as "OJ", while the likes of Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, newcomer Brandon Perea and Michael Wincott give this 2022 horror, thriller some much needed emotional depth and yet a surprising but still marvellous pinch of comedy. As Peele dictates this exhilarating piece of cinema to it's fullest capacity, while still placing such potent empathise on those who experience it. With Nope and Peele respectively fabricating an equally brilliant plot, with just equally justifiable and investible characters, ensuring that the piece ensues and balances both incredible spectacles and stakes to perfection

With Nope being not only yet another statement of intent for Peele, but rather also an admirable stride towards such flawless creative, originality and ambition that seemingly used to be the name of the game in Hollywood. As this suspense ridden spectacle is astoundingly crafted and managed, enabling for such shocks and tropes to ensue with passion and style. As this combination of exhilarating spectacle, memorable characters and extraordinary stakes converge, to justify Peele as a master of 'misdirection' and a modern day horror auteur. 4/5 Stars