Before I continue one of the ways, we keep all of our content for you. The listener free of charge is our amazing sponsors, and today anchor is one of those sponsors. If you haven't heard about anchor it's the easiest way to make a podcast. Let me explain it's free. There's creation tools that allow you to record and edit your podcast right from your phone or computer anchors going to distributor podcast for you. So it can be heard on Spotify Apple podcasts and everywhere podcasts are listened to and you can even make money from your podcast with no minimum listenership. It's everything you need to make a podcast in one place download the free anchor app or go to Anchor Dot f m-- to get started a movie fans. Welcome back to pop corn stalks. Anatomy of a movie where it today. We are going to talk about us not us like the panel but the movie us us us. We're going to break it down for you but us stay tuned welcome to popcorn Tom featuring movie discussion news and interviewed popcorn talk. We talk movie and now here's pop corn stalks anatomy of a movie. Hey, and we're back for yet. Another popcorn talk networks. Anatomy of a movie where today to be big to do is happening. We are going to talk about the the the mega movie horror movie creepy movie. We'll figure it all out. But if we are going to talk a lot about us today, so we know that I've actually had this requested. We're going to talk about this movie. And I said yes. Yes, we are and look we're making it happen because it was requested from our audience. Okay, it's we're here to talk about us. Hey and welcome Marissa Serafini, how are you read and get yes, or am I really the Mercy Surgery? All right. Don't know don't kick me out. I don't know. Welcome back. How are you? I'm sorry for the both of you. I'm sorry for the Marissa and I'm sorry for whoever's Tethered to me. And today we will get into what tethering and tether it is and Us in all this the big Jordan Peele movie has follow-up to get out again this this week above and beyond all other weeks this this mention is quite important. We always spoil a movie we break a movie Down via plot points and this movie does have twists. There are things in regards to the storytelling that many would consider as being spoilers. So if you have not seen us and you should always tune in to us, but if you haven't seen the movie us to an out because I think the movie hi pause. Yeah. Just don't watch TV. On Pine and I really do think that the movie is better served the less, you know about it but not according to the universal marketing execs. We will talk about that later. But yes, and if you have seen the movie well welcome. We will talk about all those plot points and try to get a better sense and feeling as to what the hell us was all about. So without further Ado you've been fairly warm. Earned and now we're going to just to do we start off as every show our opinions Marissa. We're going to start off on to my far right stage left. Thanks. Well, I think okay. So, you know, I do not do whore or scary or any of that made out. So I went in like oh God here we go, the first half an hour legitimately creepy and like and they were pretty earned and then like once I started figuring out what was happening. I was like, Okay. Now that I've seen them quote unquote us once I saw them has like okay, they're not as scary looking and then I went and then I was like pretty in for the rest of it, but I had to get through the first half an hour 40 minutes to get there all the scary parts and then so the first part was like what and then the second part was like what the hell is going on? Yeah, but overall it was a it was a fun ride. I'm not gonna lie and I can tell you I've been To horror movies with Marissa not a lot because she's not into that shit. It's a movie with a show. That's all I could say. I am quite yeah, she is quite the show. It's quite entertaining. So I'm glad you stuck it through there was one point where I audibly be did say out loud and I remember Ah hell nah, so that out loud. I don't remember what exact part but I just remember saying oh hell no, here we go. Nice, but overall. Fun that is very thought-provoking at the end. So I think Jordan Peele did a good job, but with that we were leaves the audience just thinking thinking at the end. You know, what did you think God? I'm like Marissa in the sense that I don't do whore ironically. I do Thrillers, which you would think is very similar, but there's something about a thriller that I can deal with but this was both this was both horror and Thriller. I loved us I thought it was brilliantly done. I kept like thinking how is this going to To size up or like you know, how is this going to replicate the magic that we saw with get out and I think something Jordan Peele does so exceptionally well is the fact that there is always social commentary there and the best thing that I got out of this entire movie overall was what it had to say about upward mobility and class and how you know, as Jordan Peele said in one of his interviews, sometimes you are the monster and you don't even know that you are the monster cool. Yeah, I mean There's lots to unpack here. My first knee-jerk reaction was well for the there was a couple but my first thing a jerk reaction was a this isn't this a lot of people came out saying this is the scariest movie. I've seen no, it's creepy Jordan Peele brings out the creeps and freaks for sure and where I do believe that in horror creepiness and scares can our hand in hand, but they're also separate entities. There can be a difference. It's between a scary movie in a creepy movie this to me was a very creepy movie. There were some scenes that were quite very uncomfortable to sit through. Mmm-hmm doesn't necessarily make it a scary movie. Poltergeist is a scary movie where this was like really it was creepy. I didn't find a quiet place and this is a good comparison because both of these movies came out of South by Southwest with great great build up in word-of-mouth and Buzz quiet place to meet Scary movie where again, I think us was just very creepy. And yeah, there were times where it could get uncomfortable but the the tethered were creepy characters Jordan Peele, I think to his credit made a very different movie from get out if you were going in expecting get out you weren't getting get out. They might have been disappointed. I walked out of the theater. Theater and I was truly befuddled. In fact, one of the first people I saw was a colleague Simon Thompson for meet the movie present. He asked me. What did you think of the movie and I said to him, I don't know what the hell I just watched. I'm still trying to figure out what the hell I just watched. I didn't say how but and that's not necessarily a bad thing because I think in us, there's a lot to unpack. I do think that the the the first half of the movie was really strong. I felt that the third act for me the third a kind of blew it it didn't stay on its toes and I think it became a loss on his toast. It couldn't stay on its that who danced on its toes? It didn't lend the pirouette. Let's just say that so I felt that there was too much trying to be done too much trying to be told In that a lot of the message was lost and became a little confusing and it became a little what the hell exactly. So the first part was what and then the second part was what the hell you got badly how I broke it down with you that's that's basically the called the movie. What what the hell? Yeah, and look I think that I think it's great that a movie could could charge so much discussion. Ian everybody wanted to talk about this movie we're going to get into audience reaction more and I think in a sense to there was some people just didn't like the movie other people's like praised the movie. I'm somewhere in the middle. I did like the movie I respect what Jordan Peele as a filmmaker and writer accomplished because he was breaking a glass. He was breaking the glass ceiling making the Genre different he made something different. This was no sophomore slump for him. He didn't just remake get out, but he did and try to do something different that I applaud and he didn't necessarily fail at it box office numbers would say he didn't fail but I think from an artistic standpoint he by no means failed and if anything like get out, I think the movie really begs of Russian that will have right here and I think a lot of our audience, you know, many people were asking me what did you just what you think and I wanted to try to save it for here because it's hard it for me. Anyways, it really is difficult as it did it took me a long time to unpack and I don't but that was a good thing because it stayed with me throughout the week. I started the beginning of the week and Tuesday Wednesday Thursday. I was still thinking about the Yeah, which is a good sign and not in a bad way. Like it didn't make me angry it stop provoking. You just things a lot of questions at the end where you really only really figure it out until you discuss it with other people. Yeah, and I'm not even for me. Anyways, I've discussed. I still don't have there's no clear definition right on the end. So let's well, let's start talking a little bit about well, you know his his Jordan peels in Operation, let's say he's been what he's been this is something that he thought about with get out being a big hit all doors open for him us was going to be his next movie. I think that he also he loves the doppelganger. Yeah the doppelganger he was making this wall like in the midst of getting out get out was already like being completed and finished but it hadn't had the success that it did now and so he was already working on this. To end its really stemmed from the what he says the idea for this movie came from a deep-seated fear of doppelgangers. And I mean, I know a lot of people have fun with doppelgangers and there's always like that the plot twist of like evil twins evil twins. There's like no what if they really were evil twins coming at you like in just that innate fear that all of us have and like how do you put that into a film? And so that was the Genesis? Yeah. I was I was so surprised by that because when I was listening to interviews, he said that when he was A child he just had this fear that he would be on the subway one day and that he would see himself staring back at him. And when I was a kid, I used to always think if there was only a twin out there that looked like me that would be so cool. Like it was never something that was creepy re re so well agent we all look alike. So isn't that nice? Baby case yeah, I mean the doppelganger story is one that science fiction really adores. It's a major troponin Star Trek has used it in the classic. Well, you know, we see twins always got it from The Twilight Zone. He said he was inspired by like this. Yeah, like episode of yeah, I can definitely be a toilet and I love the movie twins too, even though it's not a doppelganger really, but it was headed to work in my favor. Of all time at the parent. Yeah, this is so crazy. I mean, I've always had a Fascination. It's funny. I have close friends that I have close friends that are twins. And you know, when I think about it, they are almost almost heathered and they're the only ones that can crack the facial recognition on an iPhone like so somebody had an iPhone if one of them had an iPhone 10 the twin could actually that's the one thing you can't yeah. Oh is that so those damn tethered but in any case so yes or Jordan Peele the this Fascination for him was his inspiration to write this and as you pointed out earlier to there is this social political themes that he could incorporate in this above and beyond just race and I think this were this is where some people Where this Schism is when you see get out get out is a is a singular story. There are many themes that you can talk about but it really is absent this self-contained singular story, you know, and where us you can look at it as singular absolutely, but there's so much in it also, it could lead to another film it could not that I want the franchise out of this movie. Well, they just really open universe. Totally doing its you sure. Yeah cuddly doing yeah. Well, you know and we'll we will talk about that. The other thing that this movie had is for horror aficionados or the lover of the horror genre. There's just a crapload of Easter eggs everything from everything from Joel Schumacher's The Lost Boys to now the funny thing is I called the movie HUD taken from just shortening its from Chuck. Could the movie there was a movie called chud, which is cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers. This is Hut there's it takes out the cannibalistic aspect of that movie and that's basically what this is and I was thinking about but you know, like I said, Lost Boys he uses Twilight Zone reference. There's definitely Jaws are Thriller is in there. There's a lot of horror type references that peel put in. I think well in part because his love of horror and you can tell that he loves the genre I think as a director, he he knows the tropes knows how to move the camera really well and at least build the suspense with the creepiness and he used the same cinematographer that did it follows. Right? And if you ever watch that film and how the camera moves and follows from people to people from place to place, you know, he had the same movie. And he actually used it follows. He told his cast to watch it follows was one of the movies he told like repeat until Loop Nyong'o to definitely go out and see because that was somewhat of an inspiration for how you know, the tethered were going to be in this movie and if he saw it follows about this this evil entity that would follow you there are similarities there. So it follows Is definitely an Easter egg inspiration for him. So again, what did you find folks feel about like what Easter eggs is you find folks find or see I think that it's not so much an Easter egg, but the whole Hands Across America. Yeah, and I found it very generational because granted I'm young. I wasn't around in the 80s, but I know what Hands Across America was was for and then but when you actually actually apply it to how that was a failed project and then when you apply it to now and in the movie, you also might think now this is going to be a failed project statement to sew and I liked how he used just the symbolism of what what the the statement that he was trying to go for her but ended up not going as well as they hoped right now. And that was also in 1987, I believe and during the Reagan Era and It is God who is 86 86 86 I was there but I guess I think the parallel he was trying to draw my interpretation was okay, you're tying. The Reagan Era to the Trump era and Trump has been compared to Reagan and the way that and like how he he talks about like people of color or what he's trying to do without getting too much into politics, like what he's trying to do here in America by making America great again, so I thought that was an interesting. In parallel because this is like one of the first movies to come out during the Trump era kind of criticizing the way things are right now is usually small black klansmen. Yeah, totally and I get what you're saying. And again, it's hard not to the social political implications in us and in get out for that matter. Yeah. They're they're like it's to not address I think would be a great disservice. And we wouldn't be doing our jobs. I mean like comparing Reagan to Trump. Okay, that's one thing if you want but I mean the read to me anyways, there was no there it was there wasn't a mistake that the tether were wearing red. It wasn't a mistake that the tether would not o not only wearing red, but they were yelling a lot and they couldn't talk. Yeah, really and I don't like that wanted a bully because he was taking a different perspective where he even said this in an interview. Views like he has a certain political stance, but you kind of need to look at yourself at times. They like, how are you contributing to the Schism? How are you contributing to like this culture of hate and divisiveness by always thinking like in this way that oh, like I'm right you're not right like people who say, you know, like regardless of political affiliation the people who are like constantly saying, oh, you're a trump supporter. Oh, you're not a trump supporter. Like it's kind of about looking at ourselves to and well, you know, Any really sorry that's got you know, really really really see the political aspect of it. I saw it for more just the symbolism of red evil. Yeah, sure danger and death definitely and so I took it to literally I just at face value. So right look and it's such a red is such a distinguished color where it looks so different compared to the normal humans that we see. Oh absolutely. So just visually gave us something different than we know. Hey, that's something to visually give us a warning. To something to look out for so the tethered we know we could separate delineate that they're the evil ones. Yeah, and at the same time, okay, you know, I forgot I had a conversation about this movie just last night too. You know, I think it's all the the other obvious take away that one could look at it this way and again to the paranal here to the folks who are listening. None of our you know, these These are opinions and things that Well, there are they are that these are these are takeaways that we may have come away with that. We may have read about the Jordan Peele and said you have your opinions your takeaways to they're equally as valid. So we want to hear about them. I think it is like this is one of the strengths of moving making I think that a movie can have this kind of a discussion because the other the other take away 2 is I you know when you watch a movie like us we are our own. own enemy, you know our mirror version of ourselves or you know, we are The Evil Within yeah, so That's one take away another take away. This is brought up yesterday and I didn't think of it this way. But you know, whenever there's any success somebody has to fail somebody somebody gets crunched on it no matter what the success and see relativity. Yeah. So, you know, that's that's another way that the movie but the movie can be looked at that I think is very valid to do so and And I think with the tethered being that they are these underground dwellers. They are the people who are top side. There there there there second to yeah, it's Tethered to their counterparts Heather to their counterparts. They you know, they seem to adhere to similar things. But there they dance they have all these things that they don't they don't voice and I never want that was both literal and In the sense that these are the voiceless, but they also literally cannot speak they cannot speak up for themselves and they're also completely hidden from the rest of society except. I want Outcast except for one for one for rent which is and I think that that very clear distinction and that twist at the end really shows us that our Concepts and Notions of Good and Evil are inherently subjective and that you know, we might think something is evil or we might think something is good without realizing the person Perspective of evil or the perspective of good and also what I thought was the thing that stood out to me the most was the fact that you can have upward mobility and come out of that system and be the only person who comes out of it and it's kind of like a commentary on how people who Rise Up from their situation kind of want to distance themselves from where they came from. It's a nature versus nurture argument as well. Yes, that's and and again because it took well it's interesting because again, you know taking as long as I took to think about the movie, of course, I bring everything back to Star Trek and I talked about and I thought about Star Trek Nemesis was which had to deal with a clump a clone of a very well-respected high-level captain of a flagship Starship and his clone who did not live that life and when the prestige purse Person is talking to this going, you know, you have my DNA in you you could be like me and he's like now here's yeah and you have my DNA and you as well and you didn't live my life because my life was filled with brutality and hatred this is what begets from that we you had a completely different life. We are the same person, but we are different and wear it and I felt that theme come right out of This movie as well as we are the same person but through the twist we learned that through the nurture. In the society that that person who is from underground could have a better life and the switcheroo that happens which is the twist that person didn't have the good life at all almost lost her voice in fact, so that's a huge thing that like made me question. I was like how the hell can she talk. She's educated. She's speaking grammatically, correct for someone who is supposedly like Like not educated or illiterate and that sense and you realize when you see the rest of the the tethered family, they can't speak they're only talking and grunting and stuff. But she's the only one who's speaking and full sentences and that has to do and I love that you're bringing that up right and like so me just thinking of like how the heck can she talk and no one else can uh, how is yeah. How was she educated in that sense? Yeah, and I think that's like such an important point that you just brought up it all goes back. To having access and people don't realize this that the playing field is never equal. So when people talk about the American dream and they say, oh, you know, everyone has the opportunity to achieve success in America. I mean to a certain degree. Yeah, but when we look at it, there is such an unequal playing field and that's exactly what this movie shows is that if you are part of the tethered, what are the chances that you're going to rise up it literally took you how many years to rise up and Revolt and do the Hands Across America thing. Took you that long to orchestrate it to plan it and we still don't know because there's no sequel. We still don't know if it's going to be successful and that really mirrors life for people who are voiceless here in America and around the world is that upward Mobility is so difficult. And once you break free materials like the education, but do you have the chance to actually do something to hold off on that? Because these are really great points. Let's talk about that. Twist, so we're just okay. Well, that's quite so obvious dancing around the yeah, like let's just talk about the twist because I saw that coming. Yeah, the only reason I didn't see it coming is because it didn't make sense to me that there would be a Twist if You know if she had this family and if she was like trying to protect them from the other that's the only reason I didn't see it coming is because why would you be so fearful of them when I don't know I guess I guess that's the only reason why I didn't see it because she acted as if she didn't really know who they were. Well, yeah, it's really good Christy from the entire thing. Yeah, and and again, I think after multiple viewings Jordan Old lays out the bread crumbs for you to figure it out much like M Night Shyamalan did in the sixth sense because a you know, when you go back to watch it, you're like, oh, yeah such a fool. This makes sense what makes and and smile it in the fact that red can speak ya reckon speak those like such a clear that particular thing and the fact that the trailer ruined the movie and show Co and I just watched the trailer the trailer. Our shows the house and mirrors are the fun house and they show the hands coming out and dragging the little girl a d'Alene and they show that they more show it so I don't think that was a giveaway. Well, I didn't watch the movie, you know, and yeah, I mean it kind of is because that's exactly what happens in them movie. Yeah. She she grabs her chokes her out and drags her across and then she So we know what the twist is and we're talking about upward mobility. And I think we're onto something because you're right when and again, this is a horror movie. We're talking about here. So your but you're right. It's sometimes it's hard and nothing nothing makes that more concrete than the the the college admissions Scandal that happened recently. No, I mean, you know, right so you had well-to-do. Do upward Mobility people who were who are well beyond their means fine and comfortable and that they still had to cheat to get there. You know, they're privileged kids, you know who are already making millions Yang influencers into college and our fellow popcorn talk, you know colleague Carla Renata posted a status on Facebook that I thought was so powerful where she said You know, here are people who aren't really being Reprimanded for the College admission scandal in the same way that people of color are when they fake a home address so that they can get their schools into a better public school system and I just thought that was so powerful and it speaks to like that that feeling of upward mobility and like why are you punished for faking an address to get into a better school when public education should be are playing field, but with a College admission Scandal this this stuff happens more than we really know and it happened like Yeah, and I don't go ahead go away. Want to get into the just yeah, but part because we're bringing it back to it, but it's more souls like based on Merit. Yeah, you can have status you can have money but do you actually have Merit to right where you should be and what all of this has to do with what we were talking about what these heathered can represent or and as as a symbolism as a theme and it's one of those things that again it's one of those happy coincidences for a movie. You know movie comes out and some social thing happens that becomes big ass comes out around the same time. It wasn't planned that way. But if you're talking about social political themes in this movie and upward mobility and keeping the person down. This is one thing we talked in your true nature like so so when I Doan is in the upper world right at a battling, right? Yeah when she's in the upper world, she And she goes to school. She has that better life. She is nurtured into she starts to talk again. She uses dance as a way of communication. She meets a pretty decent guy from from the way. I looked at him. He's a really good guy. Okay, she had to get re-education because you didn't she started for technically but the Red Hood now a delay. She hadn't she started with no education. No way to get re-educated right learning dance learning how to speak. And just assimilating herself into the community. Yeah it my whole thing is with with her character going back to Santa Cruz. She knew what was there. She didn't want to she didn't want any opportunity or chance for it to ever come back. She's like I got the hell out. I am doing well. I married good. I have a family. I love my family. I don't ever want to be confronted. That again cuz that scarred me for life. Okay, so like you want to disassociate right now that you have status and class and wealth your kind of disassociating yourself from where you came from because you don't want that life anymore. And I think in some ways that is problematic not that you owe it to to where you came from all the time that you have to always pay back. But the way I see it is, you know, I think it's great when you can Rise Up from a situation, but also give back to that same community and it's something that we see happened time and Time again for people distance themselves. She just wanted out and I get it and it was a 11 12 year old girl. I forget how young she was in 1986. But yeah, this is her opportunity her tethered came to her and it's like that's it Switcheroo. Yeah, I'm the bad. I'm evil twin that that's going to make good and then again, these are all things you think about after you see moving and like what I thought was like somewhere out there. There's a minha just like me who doesn't Of the same opportunities. No, seriously like I when I think about it, I think about wow, I'm so lucky. I'm first generation American both my parents are from Iraq. They got out at the perfect time like during the Saddam regime imagine if they didn't imagine if I was still in Iraq, especially when you know, Iraq was invaded and the country was D stabilized like there's always another us right out there that was never given the same opportunities as us and to recognize that privilege is so important to not just say oh work hard. But to also recognize know we also do have privilege to a certain extent and that's why we are where we are today is we're successful huge part because of that birth water. Yeah, and at the same yes, and at the same time we can become our own enemy. So I want to go back to I want to go back to Easter eggs will get off social-political for a little bit. So, you know already mentioned should we already mentioned the Lost Boys Santa Cruz the carousel but another movie that that that Was at Easter egg and and reference The Goonies another one of my favorite movies also Thriller and also Thriller, of course, we talked about Hands Across America. Hmm. So I want to get on this for two seconds. It will stop. So. Yes, it was a filtering. I remember Hands Across America and everybody lining up, but I think this is one of my biggest I think this is one of my problems with the end of this movie is before we continue In you one of the ways we keep all these shows for you free is by our amazing sponsors. And today Spotify is one of our sponsors on Spotify. You can listen to all of your favorite artists and podcasts in one place for free. You don't even need a premium account Spotify as a huge catalogue of podcasts on every topic including the one you're listening to right now on Spotify. You can follow your favorite podcast. So you don't miss an episode premium users can even download episodes to listen to offline wherever they are and you can easily share what you're listening to with all your friends and following on Instagram if you haven't done so already be sure to Download the Spotify app and search for AfterBuzz TV on Spotify or browse podcasts in the your library tab. Also, make sure you follow us. You never miss an episode of AfterBuzz TV. So I just couldn't find the relevance because so we see them on the mountain tops all hands the helicopters are there and then it fades to Black. I was like, okay what now? Yeah. Exactly. Okay, why are then I was like, okay, but again leaves it open. An end it because if people don't know the results of Hands Across America, you should definitely read our rundown which is some link that will be provided below Hands Across America. It was a charity event where they were raising money for the homeless. They spent more money on the promotions and they end up making right. So the at the end of the event they only made about 15 million That was supposed to end Hunger obviously 15 million can't do that. Yeah, I'll say so, yeah. So in that sense financially sure Phil and that's why he could but the thing is if you if you remember because this in 1986 and the young real Adelaide at that point, she didn't see the outcome of Hands Across America. So by the time she got tethered underground. She didn't know that it was a failed experiment. So she spent her entire life planning this thing and not knowing was going to be filled at the end of it. Yeah thinking exactly. To be successful interested in the way that I looked upon Hands Across America to is, you know, there was a ton of coordination to make it happen, you know, right from a from a money perspective didn't make as much but the coordinated effort and the amount of people that were involved to me. That's that was a success because the the publicity but onto it so I kind of like this is the thing in the 80s. Kind of things like sort of happened Hands Across America. We talked about from Bohemian Rhapsody live at the live 8 concert. There are all these big things going on that that the media whether it be MTV then use could cover from a worldwide perspective. So seeing people line up and holding hands or being connected by music through all you know through different venues. These are important staple of things these were in there were highly extensible. Extremely difficult to coordinate and get together because the technology isn't what it is today. So that was a main staple of of events that took place for me comes out of like the 80s as well. And those are big music acts back then so it's really interesting that the movie starts off for me and it was interesting the movie starts off in the 80s and you're right. I mean the Hands Across America the hype around it and getting people to do it. You're right that Adelaide was on the cusp of the date happening and it didn't do it didn't see the end result. Yeah, that's interesting because that's something else. I didn't think but again, it's also something like if you weren't from that time and didn't know the end result the ending of the movie would be totally wasted and In fairness. I didn't understand the end of the movie until after the The facts and I did my research I was like, oh, okay. So again, it does leave the ending of the movie open-ended where you're questioning. What happens now did it actually succeed did they get their message across and killed everyone in America and now they're the ones who are the dominant ones above the ground. We don't know because it just Fades to Black right? That's it. Yeah. So now another interesting Easter egg that I had to look up and looking at Right now I didn't know if you had picked up. I mean I picked up on it, but I just didn't know what the with the passage of the verse was Jeremiah. Yeah. Yeah Bible verse right? I mean actually has it. Yes. Yeah. I'm looking at it right now. Therefore this is what the Lord says I will bring on them a disaster. They cannot Escape although they cry out to me. I will not listen to them. Rob so it's yeah the apocalypse. Yeah, it's pretty nice. Pretty much God warning. Yeah, it's it cuz it's in the book of Jeremiah back in the Old Testament. It's about the people of Israel and he was about to bring evil upon the people of Israel upon those who weren't going to worship God, but if they did he would protect them, but if they didn't who's going to bring evil upon them and he gave that warring and he is pretty much to break it down a bit. I'm going to bring evil upon you. If you don't rush me, you're gonna have hell to pay for and I'm going to hear your pain, right but I'm not going to help you right that's basically it. Yeah, so and I do refer okay. So for the folks have been watching us for like a hundred years. Where is it is our resident. Yes. I have to like, yep. She's the I have read the Bible to actually I have had to I'm Kathy. Like but since David I have legitimately read the Bible from beginning to end since day one. Our very first podcast was Pacific Rim and that's where she brought up various symbolisms. And then from that day on it was done. So salad shows shall it be written? So shall it be said or so? Yeah Phil usually tosses the religion. I'm going to digress. Yeah, but specifically is it is the Waring is the forewarning in the movie that like there is going to be hell to pay right now 11 is coming now 11 to is also heavily featured in the movie. Yeah. So aside from the 1111 Thriller airing. This is the Thriller shirt the number of the prize 11. She'll either double show up gave settles in to watch the Giants game. That's tied 1111 the seventh inning Jason points. Out that the time is 11:11 know it's funny because that's what I always. Yeah, it's make a wish during tender bedtime scene and when the tethered version of the sign carrying homeless man shows up at the end of the movie. He simply has four ones gouged into his forehead underscoring that the verse is above everything else for ones in a row is seen in the film's more hunting parameter and there's four of them. Yeah, 11:11. Yeah 1111 So which is very interesting the fact of their 1111 different moments of the number 11 throughout the movie awards that I just brought a letter instances 11 moment. I feel like you totally would tethered the Frisbee falling on the road under way. Mr. Blues, singer murder. Yeah, everything's about quality in this movie like whole thing good versus evil. And then also like the devil versus God and that the scene that stood out to me the most out of everything was remember the scene where the little boy is going into the fire that evil little boy. What up what you've a little boy and then the other one is kind of leading him astray. I saw that as such a you know, as a very symbolic, you know, there's the Stand on the Antichrist. And the reason I say the little boy whose pure is the Christ figure was because his hands were literally out like this crucifix. He was being crucified and that's literally what happens to him is that he sacrifices himself to save his family unknowingly, but he still sacrifices himself and leads the devil Into the Fire where he burns. So I just Jordan feel so freaking genius like I can't even get over this movie. There's a lot of religious undertones that you would think. Yeah, no, absolutely. Another another Easter egg is the movie Jaws something that's near and dear to my heart that movie, you know, a lot of the beach scenes were filmed very similarly to how Spielberg filmed some of his beach scenes, especially particularly when little Alex kittner gets taken, you know, there's a scene at you know, where Adelaide gazes off watching the various happenings on the beach and she's tuning out. Relation that that's really taken from being almost shot for shot taken from Jaws and then another really one of my unsung movie or Something Wicked This Way Comes, really really a it's a Ray Bradbury story turned into a really good movie that I believe Disney may have put out believe it or not. But this has the dark the panda my ammonium Shadow show, you know. There's a mirror maze things like that, you know rabbits rabbits rabbits, and it's yeah, of course so many pieces of symbolism with the rabbits are so many ways to walls. There was a recognition Yeah. Well, yeah thinking of like a oh my gosh. I was literally thinking another movie funny, but just the whole someone is a rabbit just the see how easily they multiply right duplicate. I saw his I'm also kind of being this like Jordan Peele says it's because he's always been terrified by rabbits and you just thinks they're creepy really but the way I saw every but rabbits are so cute and they're innocent and they're pure but here they are underground kind of representing that like something so pure and so innocent could be trapped and not right see the light of day but what I also gathered from it is we see rabbits right as not Adelaide, but we think She's a delayed when read is going down the Maze and I literally saw it as going down the rabbit hole and kind of being lost in this maze where you never can get out and additionally finally the whole concept of magic and pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Sure. So there was like rabbits were the perfect Motif in this film. I think absolutely great job using them especially showing them locked in cages at the beginning. All right opening scene so brilliant and and just the whole mention that the the Clones quote-unquote had to eat. Rabbits just survive. Yeah, like that's eat something so innocent and pure only and chud Kurt cannibalistic. Yeah, but there were regular habits and the rabbits could multiply so it was it was basically self multiplying food. It was a food source that wouldn't run out unless they ate the male and female rabbit that started off. There's so many rabbits sounds so many rabbits, so, another another D that we don't care because there's so many that they not supposed to be here but I don't think the ones that are again I'm gonna read so there you go. My God. What are you thinking? What are you thinking? So another one of my favorite techniques that Jordan Peele used in this movie as as well as Mike Flanagan who just did House on Haunted Hill, but he used it in his Ouija sequel. He does a reference to a great film director Brian De Palma who in many many who is his signature move. He did is he used something called a split diopter meaning he could have somebody in the foreground and in the background and they would be totally in there would remain in Focus both of them equally as sharp and focused and it's a special lens like it's put another camera that the palm of use this in movies such as carry Dressed to Kill and most of his movies. He's Jordan Peele pulls that out. He used it in this movie showing both Lupita. Nyong'o's characters in the same shop Focus, even though ones in the foreground ones in the background. It's a great technique. I always loved it. I do always think of Brian De Palma when I see other people using it. So that was a nice little nod and then of course the Twilight Zone, you know, he's referenced that I mean Jordan, Jordan Peele loves horror we know that but he's also a great he's a great like he learned. Well, he took from classic great directors. He incorporates this into his movies, but he makes it his own and I think that's part of his strength, but he has a good grounding. Another thing that shows up in this movie part of people's background. It's comedy which I think really In many cases, I think laughter and comedy the kind of also go hand in hand in horror as well. It's a great way to break up the tension. So to speak when placed in this movie through the husband, especially I thought he was great. I thought he was great to you but playing on what you just said right now. That's exactly what Jordan Peele said was that he thought that humor and horror goes hand-in-hand in the Sun. Is that they both play on absurdity, but he said what he tried to do is how do you ground that absurdity as much as possible? So with horror, how do you grow in the absurdity and with comedy how do you make it as grounded as possible? Right and I thought I thought but what's his name? What's the main character's name the man? Oh Fred, yes, but I thought he was so funny. Like there were so many moments of levity more where he was. Like, what is this weird performance are and you're just Laughs so much in this movie. I was not expecting to laugh this much during a horror movie. I laughed a lot. Yeah. I know it had it had some good laughs and and again, I think that that comedy or laughter and we're is used. It does break up the tension even the three Cartesian when they're like, yeah. Yeah, I mean again even in your slasher movies, there's some sort of like after the teenagers Have escaped some of these are some sort of a line. It just breaks the tension before ramping things back up again to where we're going to have horror. So it grounds in audience. I think I mean because sometimes you can be an extremely intense movies that just don't let you go. And by the time you're done with the movie you're exhausted. I mean just just exhausted a movie called sorcerer I think is a really great example of tension grabbing and there's little humor and then B-but, I don't mind or in comedy. Sometimes it doesn't work. But Jordan Peele obviously has you know, he's able to walk that fine line and juggle it and then on top of that he adds his slaves of social political, you know commentary. So I think that's a strength of us. Let's talk a little bit about its reception here in the States first off. I think it's Really important to note that the budget of the movie is about 20 million dollars, which is incredible. When you think the tired then get out which was what five million yeah, it could have been but 20 million is still by today's standards. It's pretty low. So all in it would probably would have cost them with prints and advertising a hard drives and advertising. I'm gonna estimate that Universal through and around 30 extra million, maybe more maybe less but around 50 50 all in right and we've got it we're looking at thus far for domestic box of domestic box office. That's you right here in the good old us 90 million dollars within its first week not too shabby at all. It far over indexed what prognosticators had it coming in and its opening weekend, which was 71 million dollars opening. End on almost four thousand locations. So people had to coming in at 50 55. They're like fuck strongly enough, right? So and then it's opened up worldwide. So foreign territories 23 million. So thus far a hundred and thirteen million dollars plus in the box office. Not too bad. The interesting thing is at least I find is critics and audiences. And critics and audiences. So this movie has done for Rotten Tomatoes. Not too shabby. I mean 94% is pretty good. That's like right around mid 90s the cinemascore in this movie. And here's our I'm not surprised as a b. It's a B. I think the movie again we talked about this a little bit. I think perception on this movie people have either loved it or they walked out not wanting to take the time to maybe think about About it. Maybe they just didn't care. They walked up going what the f that I just watch right not completely understanding it. I mean I watch them not understanding it until I did research afterwards. My I was processing it. I was processing everything as I was going along but I also was surprised at like subverted expectations because I want end to it thinking that there would be some Grand commentary about race, but it was more about privilege and class and upward mobility and I literally thought because my best friend was like whispering things in my ear. She's like I You what's going to happen when the block family is like killing the white family. This is when the police are going to come in and it's going to be some sort of commentary on how police never come or never respond right away when it's a person of color and how they respond faster when it's like a white family and that they're gonna hear F the police playing in the background and that people are just gonna come in and and beginner. That's gonna be good. Yeah, we did it. Yeah, and then it's going to be that and I was thinking oh my God, I hope it's not that that's She is it just going to end there and then it ended up being something entirely different and that's what I love. Is that here? We have, you know, a black family playing the lead and we're not just thinking like oh this is going to be about a black family were like, oh this is about something entirely different which is the best way to do diversity is to like, you know, I'm not the best way just about race about something else and for me the best way to do something about diversity is when you just don't care what the family yeah. That's what I'm saying. Begin to forget. Yeah. Yeah, you know and in our cast of characters were fantastic. Another thing and I brought this up earlier and meet the movie, press where I think and again, I think it's a true positive of the movie is there really aren't any Blockbuster stars in the movie like Lupita. Nyong'o is probably the biggest name in this movie right person her cast of characters around her. Some of them are known but they're not necessarily people. Oil that you would think is bringing huge huge box office. So to me what Jordan Peele has died and said what it's a great example of we have good stuff. I've delivered a story people are coming to this movie because of marketing story. They're not being dragged in because of necessarily Starpower right and get out did so well that people want to see a follow-up right? So When does the The Legend of Jordan Peele, you know the power of Jordan Peele bringing in diverse audiences all over? I think it's really interesting. I found it also interesting that. It is the second highest opening weekend grossing live-action original movie in nine years since Avatar. It's taken nine years. Well, yeah, it's taken nine years nine years for a movie to crack like 40 million dollars. I think I think Avatar opened it 47 million dollars and then became the highest-grossing movie of all time period it took nine years. Are to be like I don't I never even thought of it that way and they've been original movies that come out. So I just found that to be an interesting stat. So we have that. I don't know what happened field will get another nomination for original screenplay for horror though. I don't know he won't forget out. Yeah. I mean, I don't know again. I don't think this is as strong a movie as get out. What is Again, I like this movie. It's it's flawed and I don't know that will be really interesting for sure. I would not be upset if Lupita Nyong'o gets nominated for actress. I thought yeah to wise. She's great phenomenal. It's follows is so hard especially in the entire family. Even the kids are afraid of the kids not gonna lie, especially the little boy The animals the girl the way she will tell ya girl is so thank you. Yeah. Yeah, like honestly, I was more terrified of the kids and what they could do. Yeah. I listen. I really love the entire cast but Lupita really stuck out. This woman is a chameleon like she can do anything about what she did in this movie alone and what she did for her voices being read. I mean tart I mean, this is creep Factor. Actor like warp 10 it was crazy and she was she was good. I wouldn't be surprised if she were you know, I'd be more surprised if she was forgotten because I think it's that strong of a performance from her and I really think it carries the movie and she said I guess when she auditioned with Jordan Peele, she told him that she watched get out six times and he knew like oh, I really want her like a model if you don't y'all go. Yeah, so I love like you know I got Yes, there's been he said something controversial or he said it's not that I don't like white people. It's just I've seen that story. I'm not going to have like a white lead when everybody seen that story but I love what he's doing for diversity and just telling like these stories that it's almost like nightmarish scenes, but with social commentary and who else knows how to do something like that that wow I've right now. Yeah, I can't really think of anyone in that same vein and such a specific genre The thing his movie does is that they're Universal themes and his movie that are still relevant granted this movie takes place quote-unquote in 1986, and it comes back to the modern day. But the the problems and the social aspects are still relevant absolutely over the course of 30 years and they're still applicable today. It's and I think that's what he does. Well that he takes the universal themes that are still relevant. Right and I was much simpler, but I mentioned I've mentioned this before to that. About horror movies in general horror movies and science fiction in particular though, but horror movies can be a reflection of society. There are an outcropping of something and I've talked about this ad nauseam. If you've heard me talk about the original Halloween as to what that is an outcropping of, you know, coming out of out of War coming out of all this conflict and not seeing evil for what it is or not. In looking for it horror can do that whore throughout the ages has what Jordan Peele is done is he's made it. He's made it more overt. He's not he's not like hiding he's not no, he's putting it out there. He's making statements. I do think like--look whether or not I think this is I don't think this is a better movie than get out. However, I don't think it's any less of a movie. It's a really good movie and now I'll always be interested in what Jordan Peele Has to say artistically from from a movie standpoint. I'd like to know like if he continues to make horror, that's fine. But I'd like to see him try to do other things as well. It'll be interesting. You know, I'm doing a drama or even a thriller or mystery, you know, I mean because people have already started comparing Jordan Peele to the likes of Alfred Hitchcock. I can do that right and I can see that too and Hitchcock. Talked himself directed suspense movies horror type movies Valley rollers, you know, I could see Jordan Peele becoming it's too early to throw that preys on him yet, but I could see him becoming that type of a director. So I always look forward to what he has to say. So well, I don't know. I hope I hope the folks were or happy with I mean, it's such a it's a movie that us there's so much to be talked about And I don't think anybody is either really right and necessarily really wrong. It means so much to me open to interpretation there is and so wash ability factor to yeah, there was a real watchability p as it is you can re-watch it and people have that's been part of marketing and that's been part of what people have been saying that you can go back and watch us and like I said earlier The Sixth Sense you figure out these Clues as to the switcher Roo, let's call. All it and You Begin Things become more apparent. So there is a reward to Ability factor, which makes it a really good movie screenplay wise. I don't know. What are your thoughts screenplay wise? What do you think? I mean, I don't think so because get out was just so original and no one has seen that at all ever. So and I think the end that any really hit home because to it like that movie came out at like just the right political state right fine. It we're people would accept that type of film and like really do something about it. This film is just more the the classic doppelganger, which isn't as original because we've seen doppelgangers and surely television and other movies that we've seen that the whole theme of evil twins that itself is but original this is how I don't know. I don't think so. Not for this one. Yeah yourself. I mean I thought it was pretty original. I don't think it was as original as get out because the Concept of putting someone else's Consciousness and a black person's body. Like I've never really seen that before and not in that are not in a non-comedy context so but I think what Jordan Peele did really well in this movie additionally, I just want to add on a final note is that whole concept of finding yourself? You look into that magic fun house and the outside of it on the the storefront or the front of the house. It says find yourself. I think it's so interesting that in order to find I love you have to lose yourself in the rabbit hole and like this this place of mirrors where you're finding yourself and seeing a reflection of you, but maybe it's the less glamorous reflection of you. Then what appeared to be it's we keep down. It's the it's the very inner part of ourselves the part that doesn't really surface and you know, that's the part beneath us that is finally coming to the surface my other half here coming to the surface and saying all the things or He said I hate you. She's here. She's dormant. It's like a volcano. She's ready to erupt at any time. I love that find yourself by losing yourself and you might find your evil twin. Yeah, it's just living among us right now. And that person doesn't want to find me. So Marissa where can people find you everyone can follow me at Serafini TV. Are you topside down to where where where do I look for you all and I will present how about that? Where do people who are working people find you and it's a great God reference. Yeah, the double here we go everyone. I mean I you can find me on Instagram at Mina makes magic and not just the magic you see in this movie and you can find me on the Twitter's at D movies 1 7 0 1 also here in the popcorn talk networks anatomy of a movie as well as popcorn talk networks meet the movie press which is a witch. Is all about the hard news of the entertainment business. So tune into that on every Friday it but it's up there in as you like to say perpetuity give me perpetuity. So we always thank you for tuning in. There's going to be plenty more movies ahead. I know for one. I think we're going to be off for a few weeks. I know for one. I'm not going to be here. I'm going to be conning it so folks. I will keep your con. I'll be at WonderCon tomorrow. I'll be at cinemacon all week and Next week. So if you're an exhibitor distributor and you see me there say Hey you see me at WonderCon in Anaheim tomorrow say hey and then I will be at the Star Wars celebration in Chicago so I can State your home state. So, you know, and that's where I'm sure you're going to bump into me in Chicago in that grand old thing. But say, hey, we will be back with many more movies to talk about we've got the rest of the year to do it. Thank you very much to my to my great co-host my hosts and thank you to the audience for tuning in. I love to hear we would love to see your comments and what you thought about us. All right, take care, folks and us and from producers Maria Menounos Keven undergaro fils VTech, but the entire popcorn Talk network. We would like to thank you for tuning in for questions or comments. Be sure to visit popcorn talk.com. I'm Sir Richard Wentworth and this has been a presentation of the popcorn Talk Network. The views expressed herein are those of the hosts only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the popcorn Talk network or its owners are principles.
Hosts Marisa Serafini (@SerafiniTV), Demetri Panos (@DMovies1701), and Mina Wahab (@MinaMakesMagic) discuss Us (2019) Review! truggling circus owner Max Medici enlists a former star and his two children to care for Dumbo, a baby elephant born with oversized ears. When the family discovers that the animal can fly, it soon becomes the main attraction -- bringing in huge audiences and revitalizing the run-down circus. The elephant's magical ability also draws the attention of V.A. Vandevere, an entrepreneur who wants to showcase Dumbo in his latest, larger-than-life entertainment venture. HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://popcorntalk.com Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk Merch - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/PopcornTalk/ ABOUT POPCORN TALK: Popcorn Talk Network is the online broadcast network with programming dedicated exclusively to movie discussion, news, interviews and commentary. Popcorn Talk Network is comprised of the leading members and personalities of the film press and community including E!’s Maria Menounos, Scott “Movie” Mantz, The Wrap’s Jeff Sneider, Screen Junkies and the Schmoes Know, Kristian Harloff and Mark Ellis who are the 1st and only YouTube reviewers to be certified by Rotten Tomatoes and accredited by the MPAA. Current Roster or Shows: -Disney Movie News -The Unproduced Table Read -I Could Never Be -On The Fly Filmmaking -Horror Movie News -Anatomy of a Movie -Box Office Breakdown -Meet the Movie Press -Guilty Movie Pleasures -Marvel Movie News -DC Movie News -Action Movie Anatomy -Watchalong Series! 