Jordan Peele is an American film director and producer who is best known for his horror films, Get Out and Us. Peele has been producing some of the most successful and critically acclaimed horror films in the past decade, and his work has had a significant impact on the horror genre.
Overview of Jordan Peele’s Career
Jordan Peele’s career began as a sketch comedian on the popular Comedy Central show, Key & Peele. He later joined the cast of MADtv, where he wrote and starred in various comedic skits. Peele’s first foray into horror came with the film, Keanu, which he co-wrote and co-starred in. In 2017, Peele wrote and directed the horror-thriller, Get Out, which was both a critical and commercial success. In 2019, Peele wrote and directed Us, another horror-thriller that was met with critical acclaim. Peele is also the executive producer of the 2019 revival of The Twilight Zone.
Themes of Horror in Jordan Peele’s Work
Jordan Peele’s horror films often explore themes of racism, gender roles, and social issues. His films provide an uncomfortable and unnerving exploration of these themes and have been praised for their ability to effectively tackle such topics. Get Out is a particularly popular example of Peele’s exploration of these themes, as its plot follows a young black man who is terrorized by his white girlfriend’s family.
Jordan Peele’s Influence on Horror
Jordan Peele’s work has had a major influence on the horror genre, inspiring a new wave of horror films that are focused on social issues. Peele’s films have also had a significant impact on popular culture, with many of his concepts being used in other forms of entertainment such as movies, TV shows, video games, and even memes.
Key & Peele
Jordan Peele’s first major work was on the sketch comedy show, Key & Peele. The show aired on Comedy Central from 2012 to 2015, and Peele co-wrote and co-starred in many of the sketches. Key & Peele was met with critical acclaim, as its sketches often tackled controversial topics such as racism, sexism, and social issues.
MADtv
Peele then joined the cast of the sketch comedy show, MADtv, where he wrote and starred in various sketches. MADtv aired from 1995 to 2009, and Peele was part of the show from 2003 to 2008. During his time on MADtv, Peele wrote and starred in many sketches that tackled controversial topics, and he also did voice acting for various characters.
Keanu
In 2016, Peele co-wrote and co-starred in the action comedy film, Keanu. The film follows two friends who are trying to rescue a stolen kitten, and it was met with positive reviews. While Keanu is not a horror film, it was Peele’s first foray into writing and directing a feature film, and it helped to set the stage for his future career in horror.
Plot and Characters
Get Out is a 2017 horror-thriller written and directed by Jordan Peele. The film follows a young black man, Chris, who is taken to meet his white girlfriend’s family. He soon discovers that they are part of a sinister conspiracy involving the possession of black bodies. The film stars Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Catherine Keener.
Social Horror
Get Out is an example of social horror, as it tackles topics such as racism, privilege, and the dangers of white privilege. The film was praised for its ability to effectively tackle these topics while still providing an entertaining and unnerving experience.
Critical Reception
Get Out was met with critical acclaim, as it was praised for its social commentary, its direction, and its performances. It was a commercial success, grossing over $255 million at the box office. It also won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and was nominated for Best Picture.
Plot and Characters
Us is a 2019 horror-thriller written and directed by Jordan Peele. The film follows a family who are terrorized by a group of mysterious doppelgangers. The film stars Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, and Tim Heidecker.
Social Horror
Like Get Out, Us is an example of social horror, as it explores themes of privilege and class division. The film was praised for its ability to effectively tackle these topics while still providing an entertaining and unnerving experience.
Critical Reception
Us was met with critical acclaim, as it was praised for its social commentary, its direction, and its performances. It was a commercial success, grossing over $255 million at the box office. It also won several awards and was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Plot and Characters
The Twilight Zone is a 2019 revival of the classic sci-fi anthology series, which was executive produced by Jordan Peele. The series follows various characters who find themselves in extraordinary situations. The series stars Sanaa Lathan, Adam Scott, Jacob Tremblay, and Kumail Nanjiani.
Social Horror
The Twilight Zone is an example of social horror, as it often explores themes of racism, gender roles, and social issues. The series was praised for its ability to effectively tackle these topics while still providing an entertaining and unnerving experience.
Critical Reception
The Twilight Zone was met with critical acclaim, as it was praised for its social commentary, its direction, and its performances. It was also a commercial success, with its first season debuting to over 10 million viewers in the United States.
Racism
Racism is a common theme in Jordan Peele’s work, as his films often explore the effects of racism on individuals and society. His films often provide an uncomfortable and unnerving exploration of racism, as they show how it can manifest in even the most seemingly innocuous situations.
Gender Roles
Gender roles are also explored in Peele’s work, as his films often feature female characters who defy traditional gender roles. These characters often challenge the status quo and provide an empowering message to viewers.
Social Issues
Peele’s films often explore social issues such as privilege, class division, and the dangers of technology. His films provide a unique and thought-provoking exploration of these topics, and they have been praised for their ability to effectively tackle them.
Movies
Jordan Peele’s work has had a major influence on the horror genre, inspiring a new wave of horror films that are focused on social issues. Peele’s films have also influenced other filmmakers, who have sought to emulate his style and explore similar themes in their own work.
TV
Peele’s influence has also been felt in the television industry, as his work has inspired a new wave of horror-themed TV shows. These shows often explore topics such as racism, gender roles, and social issues, and they often emulate Peele’s use of suspense, horror, and social commentary.
Video Games
Peele’s influence has also been seen in the world of video games, as his films have inspired a new wave of horror-themed games. These games often explore topics such as racism, gender roles, and social issues, and they often emulate Peele’s use of suspense, horror, and social commentary.
Cultural Impact
Peele’s films have also had a significant impact on popular culture, with many of his concepts being used in other forms of entertainment such as movies, TV shows, video games, and even memes. Peele’s films have become cultural touchstones, and they have helped to redefine the horror genre.
Jordan Peele’s work has had a major impact on the horror genre, inspiring a new wave of horror films that are focused on social issues. His films have also had a significant impact on popular culture, with many of his concepts being used in other forms of entertainment such as movies, TV shows, video games, and even memes. Peele’s films have become cultural touchstones, and they have helped to redefine the horror genre. Looking forward, it is clear that Peele will continue to have a major influence on the horror genre, and it will be exciting to see what he comes up with next.
Jordan Peele’s Impact on Horror
Jordan Peele’s work has had a major impact on the horror genre, inspiring a new wave of horror films that are focused on social issues. His films have also had a significant impact on popular culture, with many of his concepts being used in other forms of entertainment such as movies, TV shows, video games, and even memes.
Future of Jordan Peele’s Career
Looking forward, it is clear that Peele will continue to have a major influence on the horror genre, and it will be exciting to see what he comes up with next. He has already established himself as a major force in the horror genre, and it will be interesting to see how his work continues to evolve in the future.
References:
1. Jordan Peele. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Peele
2. Get Out. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Out
3. Us (2019 film). (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Us_(2019_film)
4. The Twilight Zone (2019 TV series). (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twilight_Zone_(2019_TV_series)
