“Us,” Jordan Peele’s follow-up to the psychological thriller hit “Get Out,” stuns moviegoers with the idea that essentially we are own enemies. Most thrillers have a clear villain, though Peele’s film does not. He wants to expand on the narrative of good vs. evil. It’s up the viewers to decide what is good and what is evil through the lens of not having it pushed so clearly. Peele plays with the idea of using the protagonist throughout the film with a twist at the ending that ties everything together.

The film begins with a flashback in 1986 with the protagonist, young Adelaide (played by Madison Curry), in Santa Cruz for a family vacation wandering off into a funhouse. She runs into her doppelganger while in the house of mirrors, and then the film cuts black.

Star of the film Lupita Nyong’o plays adult Adelaide, all grown up with a family and husband played by Winston Duke, who did a splendid job at being the comedic relief of the film. While coming back from a day at the beach, the family is greeted by a family that appears to look like them. Red, the doppelganger of Adelaide, who looks disheveled, explains why she’s here and the doppelgangers of Adelaide’s children and husband.

They call themselves “tethered,” and they terrorize those, humans who reside above them. Adelaide is used as a trope that we in the audience have been rooting for, someone who appears to be the “hero.” Peele’s purpose for the Adelaide character was centered about duality as well as sympathy and it was maintained throughout the film until the plot twist occurred.

Though symbolism seems to saturate the film, it’s the cast, particularly Lupita Nyong’o, who makes the film what it is. Nyong’o’s distinctive voice is utterly chilling. Her facial expressions and movements when she’s both characters make it seem like they’re being played by two different actresses. She displays what it means to be a true actress, who’s not afraid of risks, going against one’s own comfort zone.

Winston Duke, who plays Adelaide’s husband, is very entertaining to watch; he provides a sense of familiarity, almost as if he is a goofy TV dad from a sitcom.

Lastly, Madison Curry, who plays young Adelaide, exhibits frightful but believable expressions, making her a young black cinema “scream-queen.” Look out, Jamie Lee Curtis, Madison Curry is on the rise.

Peele’s sophomore film changes what it means to be a horror film, as he doesn’t rely on the cheap gimmicks and special effects that make it difficult to keep an audience’s attention. Peele also demonstrates what it means to have a black family in the forefront of a film and the visibility that comes along with it.

Furthermore, Peele is making space for more black actors, actresses, producers,

and directors to explore the horror genre and not pigeonhole to stereotypical black movie trope movies.

Overall, “Us” embodies the phrase “black excellence” as it continues to dominate the industry. With successful films like “Black Panther” and “Moonlight,” the black dollar will continue to make an impact.