Jordan Peele’s Get Out (2017) is a masterclass in combining horror with social commentary. The film doesn’t just terrify its audience—it provokes thought, challenging viewers to confront racial tensions, privilege, and the horrors of systemic oppression. For screenwriters, Get Out serves as an essential case study on how to weave deeper meaning into genre storytelling.
In this article, we’ll break down how Get Out uses horror tropes, subtext, and narrative structure to craft a film that is both entertaining and thematically rich.
The Power of Socially Conscious Horror
Horror has long been a vehicle for social commentary. From Night of the Living Dead (1968) to Candyman (1992), the genre has often reflected real-world fears through supernatural or exaggerated means. Get Out takes this tradition and gives it a fresh perspective by tackling racism in a way that feels immediate and personal.
Peele refers to Get Out as a “social thriller,” a term that perfectly describes its blend of suspense, horror, and cultural critique. Unlike traditional horror films that pit protagonists against supernatural forces or masked killers, Get Out finds horror in everyday racism—microaggressions, gaslighting, and the deep-rooted fears of living in a society that often devalues Black lives.
Subverting Horror Tropes to Enhance the Message
One of the most brilliant aspects of Get Out is how it plays with audience expectations, using well-worn horror tropes in unexpected ways to reinforce its themes.
The Isolated Setting: A New Take on “The House in the Woods”
In classic horror films, isolation is used to trap characters, making escape nearly impossible. Get Out follows this convention by placing its protagonist, Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), in a secluded, seemingly peaceful estate. However, instead of a haunted house or a masked killer, the true horror comes from the liberal white family that claims to be progressive but harbors a sinister agenda.
The setting reinforces the film’s themes—Chris is physically isolated, but the real danger lies in the psychological and cultural isolation imposed on him by the Armitage family. Their hospitality masks their true intentions, a metaphor for how racism often disguises itself in politeness and supposed allyship.
The “Final Girl” Trope: Reinventing Survival Horror
In traditional horror films, the “final girl” is the last survivor, often a young woman who outsmarts the villain. Get Out subverts this by making Chris the final survivor, but his escape isn’t due to luck or conventional heroics—it’s a reflection of his awareness of the dangers around him.
Chris’s survival isn’t just about outlasting the Armitages; it’s about recognizing the insidious nature of their manipulation. The scene where he stops himself from shaking Rose’s (Allison Williams) keys loose is a defining moment—his refusal to plead with her signals his realization that he’s been played all along. This shift in dynamic makes his final escape all the more satisfying.
The Role of Symbolism and Subtext
Peele’s script is layered with visual metaphors and subtext that deepen the story’s impact. Every element of the film, from seemingly minor details to major plot devices, serves a greater thematic purpose.
The Sunken Place: A Metaphor for Oppression
Perhaps the most striking symbol in Get Out is the Sunken Place, the terrifying void where Chris is trapped after being hypnotized. Peele has described the Sunken Place as a metaphor for systemic racism—Chris is fully aware of what’s happening around him, but he’s powerless to act, silenced by forces beyond his control.
This concept resonates beyond the film, speaking to the way marginalized groups are often aware of their oppression but struggle against a system designed to suppress their voices. The Sunken Place isn’t just a horror device—it’s a chilling representation of powerlessness in the face of systemic injustice.
Photography as a Weapon
Chris’s camera plays a crucial role in the story, serving as both a plot device and a symbol. The flash from his phone is what ultimately snaps Logan (LaKeith Stanfield) out of his trance, revealing the truth about the Armitages’ experiments.
Photography, in this context, represents both awareness and resistance. The idea that a camera can expose hidden truths mirrors how visual evidence—such as cellphone footage of police violence—has become a powerful tool in real-life racial justice movements. By using his camera to fight back, Chris metaphorically and literally reclaims his agency.
Mastering Tone: Balancing Horror and Satire
One of Get Out’s greatest strengths is its ability to shift seamlessly between horror, satire, and psychological thriller. Peele masterfully controls tone, ensuring that moments of levity don’t undercut the tension but instead enhance the film’s unsettling nature.
The Role of Humor in Horror
Comedy and horror share a lot in common—they both rely on timing, subverting expectations, and eliciting visceral reactions. Peele, having a background in comedy, understands how to use humor to make the horror more effective.
Rod (Lil Rel Howery), Chris’s best friend, provides much of the film’s comedic relief. His skepticism and paranoia initially seem exaggerated, but they ultimately prove justified. His comedic interjections serve a dual purpose: they relieve tension for the audience while also reinforcing the absurdity of the horror Chris is experiencing.
By balancing horror with moments of humor, Peele ensures that the audience remains engaged while making the film’s themes more digestible.
The Ending: Catharsis and Subverted Expectations
The climax of Get Out is a textbook example of how to subvert audience expectations in a meaningful way.
The Original Ending vs. The Theatrical Ending
Peele originally wrote a darker ending where Chris is arrested after killing Rose, reinforcing the bleak reality of racial injustice. While this ending would have been powerful, the theatrical version—where Rod arrives to save Chris—offers catharsis without negating the film’s themes.
The decision to let Chris escape provides a sense of triumph while still maintaining the film’s critique of systemic racism. It acknowledges the reality of racial injustice but allows the audience, particularly Black viewers, to leave with a sense of victory.
Lessons for Screenwriters
Get Out is more than just a great horror movie—it’s a case study in how to infuse genre storytelling with deeper meaning. Here are some key takeaways for screenwriters looking to craft stories that resonate:
- Use Genre as a Trojan Horse – Horror, comedy, and thriller elements can be a way to introduce complex themes without feeling preachy.
- Subvert Expectations – Audiences are familiar with genre tropes, so flipping them on their head can create fresh, compelling narratives.
- Make Symbolism Meaningful – Every visual cue should serve a thematic purpose, enhancing the story’s message.
- Master Tone – A balance of humor, tension, and horror keeps the story engaging while amplifying its emotional impact.
- Stick the Landing – The ending should reinforce the themes and provide the audience with either resolution or thought-provoking ambiguity.
Conclusion
Jordan Peele’s Get Out is a groundbreaking film that redefines what horror can be. It proves that genre films can be both terrifying and socially relevant, using subtext, symbolism, and strong narrative structure to create a story that lingers long after the credits roll.
For screenwriters, Get Out is an essential study in how to craft stories that entertain while making a statement. By weaving social commentary into a compelling horror narrative, Peele has set a new standard for what modern horror can achieve.
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