It is quite difficult to surprise a modern sophisticated viewer, especially with horror films that are mired in endless sequels and, as it seems, have exhausted themselves. Just a cruel and bloody sight is no longer relevant. However, there are still aces in the sleeve. Hollywood in 2017 was surprised by the debut project of the director Jordan Peel - the film “Off”. In reviews, critics unanimously prophesied a brilliant career for him and called the film the main surprise and triumph of the year.
About the plot
Jordan Peale himself wrote the script for his own film, and also acted as a producer. The plot is twisted around an interracial couple: he is an African American, she is white. A young photographer with his girlfriend goes to the family estate to get acquainted with her parents. They position themselves as people with progressive views free from interracial prejudice. If the guy knew what awaited him in their house, he would immediately rush away ...
The premiere took place at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2017, the film was released in a wide distribution a month later.
The film "Away": actors and roles
The role of the dark-skinned photographer Chris went to the little-known British television actor Daniel Kaluya, who is known in his homeland thanks to the series. The girlfriend of the protagonist, Rose Hermitage, was played by an American comedian, screenwriter and actress Allison Williams. She is known to the public for her regular role in the TV series Girls, for which she was nominated for an Emmy in 2013. In reviews of the film “Away” (2017), critics and viewers emphasize such a “fresh” cast. We have not seen these actors on the big screen, and in this case it played into the hands.
Rose's parents, neurosurgeon Dean Hermitage and psychiatrist Missy Hermitage, were played by Bradley Whitford and Katherine Keener. We can safely say that here the director called for “heavy artillery”. Katherine Keener, Satellite Prize winner and nominee for Golden Globe, Oscar, BAFTA and Emmy, is known to viewers for the films Capote, Simone, Forty-Year-Old Virgin, and Being John Malkovich. American actor Bradley Whitford is the winner of two Emmy Awards. Mostly he was shot on television, but viewers could also see his work in the films Kate and Leo, Philadelphia, The Smell of a Woman, Awakening, etc.
Caleb Landry Jones, Betty Gabriel, Lakeith Stanfield, Marcus Henderson, Stephen Routh, Lil Rell, John Wilmot, Julie Ann Doan, Ashley Leconte Campbell, Karen L. Larki, Geraldine Singer, Rutherford Craven were invited to secondary roles.
Reviews of foreign critics
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 99% - an almost unique and grandiose indicator at the same time. Foreign critics warmly welcomed the horror and noted that the newcomer to the director's chair, Jordan Peel, succeeded where more experienced filmmakers often fail. In the reviews, they say the film “Away” is wildly ambitious, sharp, scary, filled with racist accusations, but at the same time a funny, refreshing and damn interesting look at the horror genre that undermines all its canons.
“This film is a message from the liberal white elite, which certainly has something to think about after watching it,” The Rolling Stone magazine wrote.
Meanwhile, Jordan Peel himself spoke very modestly about his brilliant debut: "I just wanted to shoot something that I had never seen before." Already now we can safely say what he did. The most wise, sharp, funny and sophisticated in form of a movie on the theme of racism for many years.
Reviews from Russian critics
Domestic film critics also did not stand aside and, after the premiere screening, vigorously discussed the tape. So, film critic Anton Dolin (Vesti FM) called “Away” one of the best films of 2017, emphasizing that he is smart, subtle and accurate, tells the viewer about those things that, at first glance, do not concern him.
And Kommersant Weekend in his review called the film “Away” light and witty, despite the liters of blood spilled in the final. The review also emphasized that this is a “black” movie, but there is no ghetto accent, but there is a bold look at the topic of interracial relations.
Considering the fact that the horror film “Away” received almost completely positive reviews from film critics, his rating on Kinopoisk is slightly surprising - only 6.854 points. It is associated with low ratings set by some viewers. In their reviews, it was noted that “Away” does not pull on the horror film, it is replete with “plastic” dialogs and incomprehensible, and sometimes even unnecessary details.
Favorite of the season
It is not difficult to guess, after reading reviews of the film “Off,” that the tape is a favorite of the upcoming award season in 2018. With a very modest budget by Hollywood's standards, just $ 4.5 million, she raised 252 million at the box office.
Universal Studio has nominated the social thriller for Golden Globes in the nomination for Best Comedy or Musical, which may cause many bewilderment. However, for HFPA, such a categorization of films is a common thing, especially since the director himself wanted it, saying that in this group the picture has more chances to win.
D. Peel’s debut film will most likely have to compete with the musical The Greatest Showman, the drama Lady Bird, the comedies Love-Illness, Grief-Creator and The Ice Bitch.