I went to see Get Out this evening, another Oscar contender for best picture, and my head is still spinning. Guess Who’s Coming  to Dinner it is not!  It is difficult to talk about the film without spoilers.

In the initial half hour of the movie, I was disturbed by the blatant racial overtones.  It seemed like it might be one of those point-out-all-the-racial-tension,  feel-embarrassed-by-the- white-folks and empathy-for-the-black-dude-who-tolerates-it-all movies that then has some sort of epiphany that brings it all around into a feel-good ending.  That’s how the tongue-in-cheek first part seemed.  That is not how it  eventually went.  (Sorry for all the dashes – my mind must still be in staccato mode.)

It is hard to imagine, given the promo photos, that this film has been described as a high-tension satirical horror film – with comedic elements.  Quite the mix.

Although horror is not usually my thing, I did enjoy this film. But then I have a twisted sense of humour and like material that is edgy and startling.  It has also been a long time  since I have been at a movie where the audience burst into applause at one juncture.  We were obviously being sucked right along.

I went with friends who had seen the movie before.  I thought that part of the pleasure was in not knowing what was about to happen and being surprised but they said that they enjoyed it just as much, if not more, the second time because they could anticipate what was coming and how the plot line was developing.  I look forward to chatting with them some time about the various subtle and  not so subtle racial (not necessarily racism) themes and symbolism.

If you like this genre of film, it is a good one.  If you are not for creepy suspense and  graphic violence, á la Silence of the Lambs, then it may not be your “cup of tea”.