"Knock, knock, knock."
The sound of knocking echoed.
Drew and Scarlett woke up almost simultaneously on the bed.
"Sisters, come down for breakfast," Bijou's voice called out.
"Coming!" Scarlett replied, then shot Drew a look of disgust. "Why are you in my bed?"
Drew chuckled. "Crossing the river and burning the bridge, huh? You seemed pretty thrilled last night."
"I was not!" Scarlett snapped angrily.
"Fine, fine, you weren't. Get up—time to eat," Drew said in a coaxing tone, like she was talking to a child.
Then, the girl stretched lazily, and the thin blanket slipped down, revealing—revealing naked body.
Scarlett's hand shot out like lightning, executing a move called "Claw Grab."
Drew yelped in pain and jumped up.
"Alright, take this—my Poison Dragon Drill!"
"Pfft, eat my kick!"
"Here's a finger for you."
The two girls started roughhousing again.
Meanwhile, Martin was in the dining room, eating breakfast while reading the newspaper.
"The film brilliantly combines sharp satire on racism with horror elements in an incredibly effective way. This low-budget horror flick directed by Martin Meyers is a heavyweight social commentary bomb, bold and fearless—of course, that doesn't mean it's not terrifying." —(Variety review)
"The first half of the movie is full of suspense, but it's very restrained, holding back until the explosive finale where the emotions finally get released. But that violence is incredibly satisfying, and the twists are a delight." —(The Hollywood Reporter review)
"Get Out is a delightful surprise in both concept and execution. The scares never come when you expect them, and the secrets lurking behind are bolder than you could imagine." —(The Hollywood Reporter review) Wait, duplicate? No, different: (Hollywood Voice review)
"Get Out is the satirical horror film audiences have been waiting for, cleverly blending Guess Who's Coming to Dinner with The Stepford Wives, but it's more fun and provocative than either." —(New York review)
Praise, praise—it was all praise.
Just like in his previous life, not a single media outlet, not a single critic, gave Get Out a negative review.
"Whoa, Kevin Thomas has written a long review."
"What long review?"
Scarlett and Drew, finally dressed neatly, came downstairs.
Scarlett curiously walked over, picked up the newspaper, and read aloud.
"In 1915, D.W. Griffith deliberately smeared Black people and glorified the KKK in The Birth of a Nation, infusing his narrow racist views into it."
"In 2014, Martin Meyers directed Get Out, which I believe can be called the Black version of Braveheart—powerfully 'vindicating Black people' and expressing racial anxieties."
"As a 'mini version' with a setup very similar to The Skeleton Key, Get Out's ending is clearly more exhilarating. This payoff earned repeated cheers and applause in theaters, proving it can release the audience's emotions."
"Clearly, Martin wins again, and so does the film."
"This time, let's skip the 'political correctness' debate and just talk about where this movie shines."
"To immerse the audience in suspense, to make their emotions rise and fall with the film—that requires a director who knows how to tell a story. And Martin Meyers is obviously a master storyteller."
"The layers of plot twists and the final reversal have left countless viewers in awe, all thanks to the film's tight logic and masterful control of details. In Get Out, Martin lays extensive groundwork in the early stages, making the plot flow smoothly without feeling forced, leading to the revelation of the truth."
"This is something even many veteran directors can't achieve—or at least, not this perfectly."
"I won't spoil specific plot points to avoid ruining it."
"In the process of advancing the story, Director Meyers gives nearly every character a 'hook,' whether lead or supporting—all the characters participate in guiding and misleading the audience. Martin really knows how to film ensembles; he can always let a crowd of characters leisurely tell the story without chaos, keeping the focus clear. You can see this in The Avengers as well."
"At the same time, Martin cleverly uses 'character identification' to amplify emotional investment. Get Out can be seen as a Black film, yet its climax thrills audiences of all races, including white and Asian viewers. Because the director smartly injects the story into social issues, right from the start, positioning the audience from the Black protagonist Chris's perspective, evoking empathy, aligning them with justice, and making their hearts race along with it."
"Just as Director Meyers said in the post-premiere interview: Racial discrimination demons lurk in seemingly innocent conversations and situations."
"As a horror film, that 'tense and eerie atmosphere' throughout the story's progression is essential. I once thought Don't Breathe had pushed it to the limit—until Get Out came along and showed me I was wrong too soon."
"Martin is a pro at building tense, suspenseful atmospheres—you can see it in his early screenwriting works like The Sixth Sense, The Others, and Hide and Seek, each one stretching that tension to keep viewers hooked on the plot."
[TL/N: Don't Breathe was released in 2016, but the novel's current year is 2013, so it doesn't make sense.]
...
"And one more thing: The actors in Get Out all provide excellent support to the film. Nearly everyone is on point with their performances, from lead Daniel Kaluuya to Scarlett Johansson, and supporting actors like Betty Gabriel, Catherine Keener, and Lil Rel Howery—they all deliver great work for the movie. Especially Betty Gabriel; she's unforgettable."
"Though Get Out had a small budget, it's fully realized. With its unique metaphors, captivating script, and intensely suspenseful horror vibe, it's bound to become a superstar in the history of suspense horror films."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—this is some powerful praise." Scarlett set down the newspaper and smiled at Martin. "I hear our movie got zero negative reviews from mainstream media."
Martin nodded. "Yeah, the times make the heroes. Besides the film's quality, the current surge in Black activism played a role too. Even if some critics didn't like the movie, they wouldn't dare go against the public tide—'politically incorrect' is a label no one wants on their head."
Drew, sipping her milk on the side, also picked up a newspaper and started reading.