This Surprising Neo-Noir Thriller Was a Major Influence on Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’
Jordan Peele is a master of modern horror. The Oscar-winning filmmaker continues to surprise and delight with each subsequent venture. So, I’m always keen to hear where the Get Out director gets his ideas from. And I have some info on exactly that to share with you today.
The L.A. Times ran a piece on all the films Peele gave the cast of Us to study as they prepared to shoot the film. One really stood out to me: Dead Again.
It took me a moment to conceptualize how the Kenneth Branagh picture served as inspiration to Jordan Peele. But when I stopped to think for a minute, I realized Dead Again influenced some of the most iconic elements of Us. Scissors play a pivotal role in Dead Again. Moreover, Dead Again involves doppelgängers and a chilling twist ending.
If you’re not familiar with Us, the setup goes like this: Accompanied by her husband, son and daughter, Adelaide Wilson returns to the beachfront home where she grew up. Haunted by a traumatic experience from the past, Adelaide grows increasingly concerned that something bad is going to happen. Her worst fears soon become a reality when four masked strangers descend upon the house, forcing the Wilsons into a fight for survival. When the masks come off, the family is horrified to learn that each attacker takes the appearance of one of them.
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I previously covered Dead Again for my Dread Central column, The Overlooked Motel. In my past coverage, I called the film “a haunting, neo-noir psychological thriller drenched with a palpable sense of dread.” I went on to say, “[It’s] a suspenseful and thrilling effort sure to appeal to anyone that enjoys the intersection of the mysterious and the macabre.” I stand by those assessments.
The L.A. Times article speaks to multiple pictures that influenced various elements of Jordan Peele’s Us. A few of the other titles mentioned are Jaws, The Lost Boys, Martyrs, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, and The Twilight Zone. I love the way Peele pays clever homage to his influences but crafts something wholly original that stands on its own. That’s a rare and special talent.
That’s all we have for you at present. Stay tuned to the site for more updates on where your favorite filmmakers mine for inspiration. And be sure to follow @DreadCentral on Twitter so you never miss an update.
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