Summary
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Get Out
is renowned for its rewatchability due to its many hidden messages and intricacies that reveal deeper themes upon subsequent viewings. - The movie contains numerous easter eggs, such as Jeremy’s ambitions and Rose’s hints, that foreshadow the twisted intentions of the Armitage family.
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The soundtrack of
Get Out
, including an unsettling Swahili song, serves as another hidden message that sets the tone for the terrifying journey Chris embarks on.
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One of the most successful horror movies of the last decade, the many Get Out easter eggs and hidden messages also ensure that Jordan Peele’s 2017 hit is more than worth rewatching. Get Out is Jordan Peele’s directorial debut and stars Daniel Kaluuya as Chris, a Black man meeting his white girlfriend’s family during a visit to the suburbs. Chris quickly finds himself entering a strange and dangerous situation, with the twist that Chris’s girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) lured him to his doom steadily teased throughout. On subsequent viewings, her intentions are much clearer from the get-go, though this isn’t the only reason Get Out is renowned for its rewatchability.
The movie was nominated for several Oscars, including Best Picture, and Peele won for his brilliant screenplay which is filled with the Get Out hidden messages that make for an even more interesting experience. Get Out remains one of the most influential horror films of recent years. Because of the many intricacies in its story and hidden messages, Get Out can be rewatched over and over, with each viewing revealing something new about the deeper themes the movie explores. Peele likely hid countless hidden messages within Get Out to be discovered over time, and it seems the depth of Get Out and its many easter eggs is fathomless.
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20 Jeremy’s Own Ambitions
Jeremy’s Interest In Fighting Styles Adds To His Black Sheep Character
Jeremy (Caleb Landry Jones) is one of the most unsettling characters in Get Out, giving off a creepy vibe almost immediately when he is introduced into the movie. While the rest of the Armitage family is attempting to cloak their true desires until the right moment, Jeremy seems outwardly hostile and threatening towards Chris from the beginning.
During the first family dinner, Jeremy drunkenly begins questioning Chris about his fighting experience and sizing him up. Dean had made reference to the fact that Jeremy will be following in his footsteps in medicine, hinting that he is meant to continue on the family business.
However, the way he obsesses about MMA and comments that Chris has the right body for it suggests he wants Chris’ body to pursue his athletic dreams, one of the earliest hidden messages in Get Out revealing the intentions of the Armitage family.
19 Rose Covering Her Tracks
Rose’s Protective Side Is More Sinister Than It Seems
Get Out‘s twist ending reveals that Rose is part of her family’s twisted plans for Chris. It is a stunning twist that is one of the best in the movie and sold wonderfully thanks to Allison Williams’ performance.
However, as shocking as the reveal is, like most twists in Get Out, there are clues to notice on rewatches and her behavior prior to the reveal subtly exposes the truth in hindsight. One of the moments that’s recontextualized is when Rose and Chris are questioned by police as they drive to her parents’ house.
When the cop unjustly tries to get Chris’ ID despite the fact that he wasn’t driving, she puts a stop to that. This “noble” gesture was actually Rose covering her tracks, not wanting the cop to see Chris’ name end up on a missing persons list and make the connection.
18 The Armitages’ Household Staff
Dean Hints At The Truth Behind Walter And Georgina
Almost immediately after Chris and Rose arrive and the home of the Armitages, Dean (Bradley Whitford) takes Chris on a tour of the property, and the scene contains a lot of hidden references to the eventual twist.
This includes the creepy inclusion of the family’s hired help. When asked about Walter (Marcus Henderson) and Georgina (Betty Gabriel), Dean explains that they were around to care for his parents and couldn’t let them go afterward.
This is a fun play on words when looking back on the scene with Jordan Peele seemingly enjoying dangling these obvious references early on which will go unnoticed by viewers watching for the first time. While the implication is that he’s emotionally attached to his household staff, the reality is that Walter and Georgina are the new bodies for Dean’s parents.
17 The Translation Of The Opening Song
The Music Offers An Early Warning
Jordan Peele has already established himself as a director who brilliantly uses music in his movies. Prime examples of this include the use of “I Got 5 On It” by Luniz in Us and “Sunglasses at Night” by Corey Hart in Nope.
Kicking off this trend in his filmmaking, Get Out had an unforgettable soundtrack that suited its tone perfectly, and also contains several Easter eggs. The unsettling music that plays primarily at the beginning and the end of the film is indecipherable to English-speaking audiences because the singing is in Swahili.
The song is called Sikiliza, and it is both unnerving and also one of the hidden messages in Get Out. The Swahili lyrics contain a warning for Chris — “Brother, listen to the ancestors – run!” The song sets the tone for the film and for the terrifying journey that Chris is about to embark on.
16 Jordan Peele’s Rabbit Obsession/Fear
Peele Includes A Threatening Rabbit Reference
All of Jordan Peele’s movies have been horror tales mixed with humor and big ideas, but the filmmaker has also proven how versatile he is with three very distinct movies. However, there are elements that are shared in some of his movies, including rabbits.
After the notable presence that rabbits had in Us, questions began to arise about Peele’s slight obsession with the animal. In an interview, the writer/director stated that rabbits “terrify” him. In Us, the adorable furballs represent innocence and synchronicity in a sense.
But a lesser-known fact is that rabbits were also featured in Get Out but as an incredibly subtle Easter egg. The first song played in the film is “Run Rabbit Run.“ It is the background music to Andre’s death/kidnapping as he wanders through the suburbs. While there are no noticeable rabbit inclusions in Nope, it is a trend that could continue for the filmmaker.
15 The Dead Deer Is A Bad Omen
The Deer Is A Message For Chris
The first overt jump scare in Get Out is the moment when Rose hits a deer during the drive to the Armitage’s family home. This scene is also the first time that the audience sees someone being racist toward Chris; the cop that arrives insists on seeing Chris’ license even though he wasn’t even the one driving.
The deer in Get Out is a hidden message symbolizing the moment that Chris’s life diverts from normalcy into a nightmare, although he doesn’t quite know it himself yet. It’s a bad omen and Chris’ warning song even plays in the background during the scene. It is a sign that Chris should turn back now. With the injured deer dying alone in the road reminding Chris of his mother, it could also be interpreted as her reaching out to him from the afterlife, trying to warn him.
14 Chris Predicts A Tense End
Chris’ Early Concern Comes True
Jordan Peele has cemented himself as a new and exciting voice in horror, but that doesn’t mean he has left behind his comedic roots. Even some of his Get Out Easter eggs seem to have been placed in there with a sense of humor for when the audience discovers them later on.
Early in the movie, Chris expresses his worries to Rose about how thrilled her parents will be seeing her bring a Black man home, saying “I don’t want to get chased off the lawn with a shotgun.”
It is a funny line that speaks to Chris’ apprehension about visiting his girlfriend’s potentially unapproving family. However, at the end of Get Out, that is exactly what happens with Rose as she’s the one holding the shotgun and firing at Chris as he runs from the house.
13 H.P. Lovecraft References
The Armitage Family Name Has Deeper Meaning
H.P. Lovecraft is one of the most influential artists in the genre of horror with his work influencing countless movies, shows, and books over the years. While it is largely an influence of cosmic horror and creature design, Lovecraft is referenced in many subtle ways throughout Get Out, with many Easter eggs nodding toward the Call of Cthulhu author. Jordan Peele has clearly always had a love for the classic horror novelist, far before the creation of his series Lovecraft Country.
The most obvious reference to Lovecraft in the film is the family’s last name. Armitage is also the name of the main character in the H.P. Lovecraft story The Dunwich Horror. Fellow H.P. Lovecraft fans might want to watch the twisted horror movie more than once to try to pick up on the elusive references.
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12 Rose’s Early Signs
Rose Lacks Sympathy Early On
Each member of the Armitage family puts on an act when Chris arrives in their home, but the most convincing of them all is Rose. She has spent considerable time with Chris, making him fall for her and appearing like the kind and supportive girlfriend who convinces him nothing is wrong. However, upon a closer look, Rose does drop several subtle hints of her sociopathic side throughout the film.
One significant example goes back to Get Out‘s tragic deer scene as she shows no signs of sympathy when she hits and kills the deer early on in the film, while Chris clearly reacts with distress and remorse for the poor animal. This evident lack of empathy foreshadows the movie’s final plot twist and hints at the kind of lack of emotion she has toward someone who she pretends to love.
11 The Significance Of Chris’ Camera
The Lens Provides An Interesting Connection
Daniel Kaluuya’s Chris in Get Out is a talented photographer with his talents adding several interesting elements to the overall story. It’s established his skill is due to the fact he’s incredibly observant, which is why he eventually figured out the Armitage’s true intentions. His skill with the camera goes deeper than that though, and it used to explore one of Get Out’s deeper themes.
Chris captures images so others can see the world through his lens. This is reminiscent of the white people who live inside of the Black victims, quite literally seeing through the eyes of another. This is heavily emphasized when Chris has a conversation with Jim Hudson, the blind photo critic who seeks to live in Chris’ body because he wants to enjoy the keen eye for photography that Chris has.
10 Georgina’s Slip Up
Georgina’s Break Links To Her Hypnosis
Georgina and Walter are “hosts” for Rose’s grandparents, and out of everyone — including Andre (LaKeith Stanfield) — Georgina seemed to slip up the most. Her true identity often came through, albeit in small, easy-to-miss glimpses.
The hypnosis they are under has been shown to be very effective over a long-term period to suppress their true identity, but there are triggers that can temporarily snap them out of it. While the flash on Chris’ camera was one example, there is another subtle trigger.
It’s been speculated that the moment in which Georgina stumbles while pouring Chris and the Armitage family drinks was brought on by Rose’s mother momentarily clinking a spoon to her glass. Missy has the ultimate control due to her hypnosis techniques and this small scene is an early moment foreshadowing the horrifying truth.
9 The Shining Parallels
Peele Is Influenced By Kubrick’s Seminal Horror Movie
The director himself has stated on multiple occasions that The Shining is Jordan Peele’s favorite horror film. This is definitely not an unpopular pick, as Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 Stephen King adaptation is widely regarded as one of the best horror films ever made and one of the most influential horror movies ever made. That influence is clear here as well as there are several references to it scattered throughout Get Out.
A prominent example is the moment when Andre describes being lost in the suburbs as feeling like being in a hedge maze. This brings to mind the famous maze at the Overlook Hotel in The Shining that plays a big role in the movie’s climax. However, the famous movie maze also symbolizes the mind-bending and twisted story within both The Shining and Get Out.
8 Missy’s Silver Spoon Metaphor
The Hypnotic Trick Goes Deeper
The hypnotism scenes in Get Out are some of the most unsettling in the movie, which begins to introduce the threatening elements of the story. It also introduces one of the most unsettling horror movie concepts in the Sunken Place.
The sequence is made even more memorable with Peele’s unique approach to the hypnotism, using a simple yet creepy sound of a spoon stirring in a cup of tea. Missy (Catherine Keener) was often seen with this silver spoon and it wasn’t only to represent her control over the sunken place.
A silver spoon is commonly representative of wealth and privilege, a deliberate hidden message in Get Out. This helps emphasize the themes of racial inequality and class divide as the Armitages have always had the upper hand in life because they are white and well-off.
7 Rose’s Cereal And Milk Symbolizes Segregation
The Eerie Snack Is Made More Disturbing
Once Rose’s true intentions are revealed in the movie, she becomes one of the best female horror movie villains with Williams falling into a chilling persona for the role. After Chris discovers the truth about the Armitages, Rose almost immediately moves on to scouting her next victim.
As disturbing as it is that she is ready to start the cycle all over again while Chris is still being kept downstairs is creepy, but not as creepy as her choice of snack. In this scene, she eats Froot Loops cereal and milk, except they are separated instead of mixed together like a typical bowl of cereal would be.
While this makes for a funny moment in the film, it likely represents something much more grim. Because Froot Loops are colorful and milk is white, the separation of the two seemingly symbolizes the American Segregation era when people of color were forced to use different public amenities than white people.
6 Walter Was Running Because Dean’s Father Was An Olympian
There Is More Revealed Behind The Late-Night Running Sequence
One of the most famous, disturbing scenes in Get Out is when Walter is running laps in the middle of the night. Chris discovers this anomaly and Walter proceeds to run straight toward him, veering off at the very last second. The scene is shot in a style that portrays Walter running directly at the camera, which makes it all the more memorable.
It makes for an effective moment to put the audience on edge as well as add to the creepiness of the movie’s overall feel as there is no explanation given as to why Walter is doing this. A deeper look into the reason Walter was running makes a lot of sense; Dean’s father — a former Olympic runner who once lost to Jesse Owens — was inhabiting Walter’s body, which explains the late-night exercise sessions.
5 Hidden Lobotomy Scars
The Victims’ Heads Are Covered
The victims of the Armitage family that are present in Get Out are Georgina, Walter, and Andre. Since the process of inserting someone else’s brain into the victim’s head and sending them into the Sunken Place was achieved via lobotomy, the victims would obviously have evidence of it, yet none of this is ever visible.
Georgina, Walter, and Andre all have something in common, though; they all wear something on their head that hides their lobotomy scars. Walter/Dean’s father wears a baseball cap, Andre/Logan wears a straw hat, and Georgina/Dean’s mother is constantly fixing her hair to hide the scar.
This is revealed to be the case as, during the climax of the movie, Chris brings Georgina into the car with him only to crash. Georgina’s wig is then shifted in the accident and there is indeed a large scar visible above her forehead.
4 The Armitage Family Helmet
A Long History Is Hinted For This Group
Get Out‘s opening scene is a haunting one that shows the abduction of a Black man by a figure wearing a helmet who is later revealed to be Jeremy. However, the helmet itself also carries some significance. As Jordan Peele explains in the movie’s director’s commentary, the costume choice is another Get Out easter egg exploring the movie’s deeper themes.
The helmet is associated with the Knights of the Templar, an ancient organization with a long legacy in history. Adding to the creepy origin of the twisted society of the movie, Peele explains that it is meant to confirm the Armitage family has roots in the Knights of the Templar. It is also subtly confirmed later in the movie that it is Jeremy who was wearing the helmet as he uses a similar chokehold on Andre that he attempts to use on Chris and is later seen holding the same helmet.
3 Chris Had To Pick Cotton To Save Himself
Chris’ Salvation Has Historical Context
As harrowing as it is to see Chris finally confronting the danger he is in and being taken by the Armitages, watching him fight back and prevail is a very satisfying sequence. When Chris was tied to a leather chair as the Armitages were preparing for his lobotomy, the video playing on the TV in front of him was supposed to put him in a trance. It failed, however, and he managed to escape.
The only reason Chris accomplished this was by pulling the cotton out of the arm of the chair and stuffing it into his ears, preventing him from hearing the entrancing spell on the TV. This seems to be a clear reference to the era of slavery in America in which mass amounts of enslaved Black people were forced to pick cotton by hand.
2 Metaphorical Meaning Of The Sunken Place
The Creepy Concept Is Even More Thought-Provoking
The Sunken Place becomes such a terrifying aspect of Get Out, and the scene in which Missy sends Chris into a hypnotic state where he is slowly plunged into the depths of consciousness is one of the most immersive in the entire film.
It is a visually stunning sequence that expertly gives the idea of consciousness in one’s body without having control of it which is one of the most unsettling things about the victims in this movie.
Along with being a terrifying horror concept, it is also a powerful metaphor that relates to the themes of the movie. Jordan Peele explained that the Sunken Place was a metaphor for the marginalization of Black American people. The director stated, “No matter how hard we scream, the system silences us.” It is a haunting connection between a real-world issue and a terrifying piece of horror movie imagery.
1 “A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste.”
The Memorable Slogan Is Layered
The Armitages’ extremely disturbing PSA that Chris is forced to watch before they try to take his brain explains the origin of the family’s “mission” and why they do what they do. The slogan they used to justify the horrible act was, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” — the slogan the United Negro College Fund has used for over three decades.
It is easy to see this slogan used by the Armitages as a bit of dark humor that relates to the fact that they are literally transferring one person’s mind into another person’s body. However, there is a deeper message there as well that speaks to the vile racism of the group.
In their minds, a white mind is more precious than a Black mind. Therefore, they consider allowing a white mind to die with age a waste while not thinking the same about depriving a Black mind of control.
Get Out
R
Horror
Mystery
Thriller
Release Date February 24, 2017 Director Jordan Peele Cast Lyle Brocato , LaKeith Stanfield , Caleb Landry Jones , Betty Gabriel , Allison Williams , Marcus Henderson , erika alexander , Bradley Whitford , Jeronimo Spinx , Catherine Keener , Daniel Kaluuya Writers Jordan Peele Studio(s) Universal Pictures