We fast-forward to adult Adelaide, still haunted by this childhood trauma, on vacation with friends. She's still cautious about large public places, and the beach is no resort for her, especially after she catches a glimpse of a man on a stretcher carried by paramedics, and -- soon after -- a seeming double of that man, bloodied and strange.
And then the fun begins: the lurking menacing mute gathering of the döppelgangers, a little closer to home in each shot. When they come, their resemblance becomes still creepier; we see them mimic the actions of their 'originals,' but in a weirdly clumsy manner. Then the killing begins.
We learn that these doubles are the "tethered" -- creatures linked to those they so resemble, and seeking to free themselves by killing the originals and severing the ropes that tie them to them. It's a strange sort of linkage in which -- at least in one sense -- their murderous rampages are almost a cry for freedom. Adelaide, of course, is the only one who really understands all this, and it's her struggle -- and her final battle with her own tethered replicant -- that brings the film around to its final denouement.
So what does Us add to the long tradition of doubles? Are its concept of the "tethered" and its "science experiment" explanation any different from the usual suspects? And is its ending somehow creepier or more meaningful than that of earlier such tales? And do you sense the political undertones of this film, perhaps agreeing with Jordan Peele that, untimately, "all horror films are political"? (see his interviews here and here).
Your thoughts here.
Lexianna Santos:
ReplyDeleteIn this movie, the typical idea of doubles in horror stories were reversed. Instead of just copies, these creepy doppelgangers or tethered, are deeply connected to the main characters, reflecting on their fears and doubts. Although the idea of a "science experiment" explaining their existence is not a new concept , Jordan Peele makes it appealing to the audiences as well as leaving room for interpretation. The movie's ending is resonating as it makes you think about identity and personal struggles. Jordan Peele also ties political themes into this movie by tackling issues like class differences and privilege. By using psychological horror stories to explore these topics, Peele encourages us as the audience to see the world in a new perspective and understand ourselves and our society better.
Mia JeanLouis
ReplyDeleteWithin "Us," reflection is understood in a more profound way than just screens and twins. It explores how society reflects itself, exposing the obscure and frequently disregarded facets that represent our own insecurities, anxieties, and social problems. The film's portrayal of mixed emotions acts as a window revealing the intricacies found in people as well as society at large, encouraging spectators to speculate on the shadows they may hold among and around them. The film promotes contemplation on both individual identity and wider issues in society, rendering it a multifaceted and intellectually stimulating visual encounter.
Allison Quinn:
ReplyDeleteWhile watching the movie “Us” I was constantly on my toes just trying to figure out what was actually going on. At the beginning of the movie we see a scene where it a bunch of the rabbits in a cage in a weird empty looking classroom. Honestly though I didn’t really think about that until a lot later into the movie. So Red when talking to Adelaide talks about how she is her shadow. So every time something wonderful, or nice happens to the humans on the surface the tethered get a darker twisted version. When Adelaide got a soft comfy toy she got a sharp hard toy that would get her up when she was forced to play with it. There’s something supernatural about all of the tethered, but also something very uniform so it raises a lot of questions throughout the movie. You’re now made aware that every time something good happens to you someone else has to suffer for it. Closer towards the end of the movie that theme also starts to the political aspect that Jordan Peele talks about. We learn that all the tethered were created by the government. On top of that that fact that they were made to control the people living on the surface, but it didn’t work the way they planned so all the humans instead controlled the tethered. They were left in the underground’s around the world to suffer, and slowly lose their minds constantly being controlled by others. I think he’s trying to talk about the idea that usually for others to do well or be successful others have to suffer in their stead. I think it was an amazing movie, and after watching it I’m definitely looking forward to watching more movies by Jordan Peele.
Lexianna Santos:
DeleteI also agree with your commentary as through out the film I was trying to grasp what was truly occurring. When it came to the tethered it was made aware how much they truly suffered due to the actions of the government while their counterparts are able to make decisions for themselves and live happily. This movie leaves you to consider the world in a new perspective and understand ourselves and our society better rather than having a one sided view. I also truly enjoyed this psychological thriller movie and would like to explore similar topics.
Liana Nerbonne
ReplyDeleteIn the film "Us" the traditional horror trope of doubles takes a unique turn. Instead of mere copies, these eerie doppelgangers, known as tethered, share a deep connection with the main characters, reflecting their fears and uncertainties. While the concept of a "science experiment" explaining their existence isn't entirely new, Jordan Peele presents it in a compelling manner that invites audience interpretation. The film's ending is thought-provoking, prompting reflection on identity and personal struggles. Peele also incorporates political themes, addressing issues like class disparity and privilege. Through the lens of psychological horror, Peele encourages viewers to adopt a fresh perspective and gain a deeper understanding of themselves and society.
I feel like Us adds a whole other level to doubling in films because these aren't just your average doubles. These tethered figures have a personal connection to the humans in this movie, and perform tasks in a similar fashion to the real humans in the movie. I feel like when the main character Adelaide meets her double the conversation they have is actually more deep then most doubles or even just regular horror movies. The conversation they have can be closely related to how the world is today by the thought to be double explaining how all they wanted was unity and how the humans forced them to live in their shadow all these years. The fact that the family was living with the double the whole time was absolutely freaky and it was an unexpected twist for me.
ReplyDelete"Us" is a film that will have you stuck in your seats at the cinema's thinking, "I have been in one of those mirror contraptions before, did I meet my double?". This film further expanded on the lives of our doppelgänger, who we are supposedly tethered to, and show the viewers some snippets of the underworld life. The ending of this movie introduces a twist that defines the viewers understanding of the movie. The conclusion of the narrative adds complex layers to the story and questions one's identity, privilege, and societal structure. The ending of the movie might be viewed crepier or more thought provoking than traditional doppelgänger. "Us", explored themes of class struggles, inequality, and the consequences of societal neglect. The tethered, Serving as the metaphor for the marginalized and oppressed, challenges the viewers to confront uncomfortable realities of inequality.
ReplyDelete-Ian Cabrera
DeleteWhile watching the film "Us" something I found interesting is how connected the humans were to their doubles and vice versa, especially Adelaide. At one point in the film towards the beginning, Adelaide tells her husband about her experience when she was young seeing her double. She then proceeds to tell him that she wants to leave. She says that since they have been back in the area where her incident happened there have been more and more coincidences. Adelaide says that she believes that these are all signs that the girl she saw in the mirror maze, her double, is getting closer. Very shortly after she exclaims this the power goes out and "a family" arrives at their house. This is the first time the doubles appear. So it is seen here how connected Adelaide is with her double and that she could feel her coming. As the film goes on we learn about what the doubles go through while their human lives and how closely their lives are related but almost opposite.
ReplyDeleteThis film has expanded on the concept that having a doppelgänger can become more complex. The doppelgänger, while is a character in the film is also a shadow of oneself and shows the other deeper and darker sides to life. The character gets to explore their life, identity and see if the original or doppelgänger can align with the classical literature of life. The ending of the film brings chills to the doppelgänger tale and is left at an open-ended scene for those to interpreter and let the audience think about the film at a deeper level.
ReplyDeleteThe film "Us" depicts the line between self and other blurs with a tale of horror and identity. The film portrays the idea of doppelgangers or shadows violently attacking their tethered counterparts. The shadows are depicted with red jumpsuits and strappy black sandals. As described in the nondiegetic text in the beginning sequence, there are supposedly abandoned underground tunnels across America. These tunnels are further explained as the place that houses these doubles. These creatures are subjected to harsh conditions and violent occurrences that perpetuate their villain-like existence. For example, Adelaide has a c-section in real life, but her "shadow" is forced to remove the baby on her lonesome. Additionally, her seemingly true form receives warm meals while the "shadow" eats raw rabbit. The shadows are frustrated by their existence and long to take over their counterparts. Therefore, they come up from the depths of these tunnels to attack and murder them. The shadows are angry that they are tethered below without the freedom of their soul. Below they parallel the same actions of above as puppet like figures. The tethered used Adelaide's character as a way to remove the rest of their misery. The scissors they carry symbolize as the tool to cut them from their invisible shackled connection. Their goal is to overtake the world and live above as they have always longed to. The ending shows how the evening during her childhood the shadow captured her true self. The whole journey was for the true form of the girl to gain her position back in society. This eerie story ends with the family driving off without a sense of closure. This leaves the viewer wondering how Adelaide's true form will prevail above. Will she be violent or exist in peace with her family?
ReplyDelete*Final sentences edit* This leaves the viewer wondering how Adelaide's shadow will prevail above further. Will she be violent or exist in peace with her family?
DeleteThis is probably one of my favorite scary movies of all time, and Jordan Peele's use of foreshadowing and repetitive theme is awesome. The themes are broad enough to allow people to have different views, but descriptive enough for you to understand them. You can argue that the doppelgangers represented personal issues, societal issues, wealth gap, identity, etc., and be right. Those repetitive 11s and the Jeremiah 11:11 Bible verse in the movie tell a story on its own. The foreshadowing with the bunnies and Hands Across America also tell stories within themselves. This is one of these movies that you can talk for hours about because there's just so many things to take away and analyze from it. "Get Out" was another great film by Jordan Peele that you can write so much about.
ReplyDeleteThis movie is such a good one! There are various themes to this movie and the symbolism that are used are immaculate. I would like to mention one of the themes about how the doppelgängers are second class citizens and how you can relate it back to social issues of classism and marginalization.The doubles are treated badly and have the bad version of everything. It was just very interesting to see the parallels of their lives.
ReplyDeleteI have never been a fan of horror films however this is not a normal spooky ghost or haunted house type horror movie, which makes it unique and interesting. In the movie the tethered are more than just physical copies. They stand for an evil, suppressed side of the main characters'. It shows their hidden self and the effects of trauma, and psychological depth. Although the concept of a botched scientific experiment is not new, Peele's presentation of it and his political views on inequality and divide between classes make it unique. The fact that the connected aren't just mindless replicas but are the result of societal rejection and it draws attention to more significant problems in the story.
ReplyDeleteThe film "Us" adds a whole new meaning to knowing yourself. It explores the concept of coming face to face with your doppelgänger and how frightening and dangerous it can turn out to be. The character gets the opportunity to explore all sides of themselves through their shadow, showing even the dark we may not see while leaving the film up to a chilling open ending.
ReplyDeletecarina marques
DeleteByron Veliz- Us adds to the long traditional of doubles is that they are actually a part of your life and that they will try to eliminate you to keep only one version of yourself. Additionally it adds to this idea of doubles that they make you view your past for example when the main character in Us keeps getting flashbacks of her childhood. I feel the idea of a " science experiment" is not a new concept because at the beginning of the film we see a bunch of white bunnies in cages which indicates experiments have already been happening. I feel the ending was really creepy but for me it had a meaning that your past will always be a part of your identity and play a major role in your life development. I agree the horror movies can be political because as we see the cops are part of the government and they never reply and delay to come help the family.
DeleteJodi Fowler
ReplyDeleteThere has been a stigma surrounding many famous people who are said to be cloned and we aren't seeing the real ones, just their doppelganger. This movie made me think about whether or not that could be a possibility.
I have wondered why doppelganger are most times the "bad" sides of us, but why does it have to be that way? Why can't they be the ones to go to work and get stuff done instead of trying to kill the real us?.
I also have had the thought that the mother is still not the real person, after what happened at the fair, but her doppelganger, and the real her is just with the other family members to get back at the doppelganger who switched with her.
I like how Peele introduced the idea of doppelgangers in the movie "Us". They are not your normal doppelganger. The doubles in this movie are tied together by a common soul. This means that the two bodies are tethered. Since the bodies that have been kept away from the outside world have been unseen for so long and they are humans too, they want to rebel and untether what they believe is their right to be the only ones with a soul.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, I agree! Peele's "Us" depiction of doppelgängers is original and provocative. The notion that two bodies are bound by a shared spirit gives the story more complexity and turns the duplicates from simple likenesses into intricately intertwined entities with distinct goals. The plot of the captivating and intricate novel is the invisible twins' rebellion to break free and assert their own existence.
DeleteFranz Eliasson
Joe Johnson:
ReplyDeleteI chose to write about "Us" as my Midterm Essay because there was so much to say. In short, I highlighted the apparent theme of American classism throughout the film. There are many instances of character caring more about their image of wealth than their wellbeing or others, highlighted in many ways over the two hour runtime. Some instances of this are the typical American symbols of wealth used as weapons, such as expensive vehicles and sports equipment. Also, I found it interesting that the Tethered live below ground, a literal representation of the lower class. Their oppressors, the upper class, live happily above ground, surrounded by material possessions. I think the underlying theme of this film is that we should throw away materialistic ideals, and focus on creating a society that allows everyone to thrive equally.
Elizabeth Rubenstein
ReplyDeleteI ended up writing about Us for my Midterm Paper, and I focused on the relationship between Red and Adelaide. I also touched upon symbols I noticed that connected. Specifically how all the doubles were wearing red. They are dressed all alike in all red. I believe one part that it symbolizes is how they are killing the originals and taking over their life. Red can mean two different things: one, Red signifies danger and being aware of your surroundings, and two, red symbolizes blood. Both these factor into the film. It seems like a warning to everyone that danger is on its way. If I saw someone in all red who looked like a zombie, I would think of how I needed to get away fast because something terrible was about to happen. I believe red blood and red danger go alongside death and taking over; there is a lousy sense overall. Another connection I saw was that this all started when Adelaide entered the House of Mirrors as a kid, and her double is named Red. Another reason they also chose for the doubles is to wear all red to tie in that connection and bring everything full circle. In the beginning, when she first goes in and comes face to face with Red, Red, who is the tethered double to Adelaide, is not wearing all red like later on when all of the doubles come out and start killing. Another part I have connected to this theory I have made is that this film is centered around Adelaide and Red and their story of how things came to be, so throwing in hidden messages and meaning like that shows the viewers that every detail matters and there is a reason behind it. As the film goes on, we find out that they originally switched places all those years ago. It's almost like "Adelaide" wants her to know that they are the reason for all this. The story's emphasis is the focus of these two and their special tethered connection. That makes me think that having them dressed in red emphasizes the importance of the connection between them and how they are the whole reason for this to happen.
-Nataly Santos
ReplyDeleteWhile watching the film US really gave an insight into the world of doppelgangers as we have all heard about them but, at least for me I have never thought of them in an evil light like Peele portrayed them as. These doppelgangers not only looked the same as the main characters but also attempted to act the same as well. Seeing that the doppelgangers were living alongside the family in the story shocked me and helped me realize the terrors of evil doppelgangers. Not only this but the movie makes light on how some of the characters see themselves and uses that to develop the story.
Karla Rodriguez
ReplyDeleteIn the film we can notice several clues about what was happening, however, we notice one of the clones who acts like a normal human being, it is Adelaide or the one we thought was the real one, that means that the other clones could carry a relatively normal life outside the underground, a theory based on Adelaide's attitude.
While I was watching this movie I was noticing a lot of symbols between animals, objects,and numbers. through out the movie Peele seemed to add the owl which is a symbol for death. Adelaide saw this owl when she first entered the fun house and when she saw it again for the second time she made sure to destroy it. also white rabbits seemed to be through out the movie including her stuffed animal, along with the numbers 1111. this movie seemed to have so many connections with not only the humans and doppelgangers being tethered but with the symbols! however this movie definitely threw me through a loop!
ReplyDeleteAmanda Viveiros
ReplyDelete"Us" uses doppelgängers as a metaphorical device to explore complex themes related to human nature, psychology, and societal dynamics. It invites audiences to reflect on their own inner conflicts, fears, and the darker aspects of the human psyche. This movie was also a little weird as well as a little spooky
"Us" gives a whole new meaning to self-awareness. It examines the idea of confronting your doppelgänger head-on and how unsettling and hazardous that encounter may be. Through their shadow, the character is given the chance to explore every aspect of themselves, including the dark aspects we might not be able to see, and the film ends with a suspenseful, unresolved twist.
ReplyDelete