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Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week.

Us
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, and Madison Curry
Synopsis: Early in the film "Us," the fantastic horror follow up from director Jordan Peele, the main character sees a man holding a sign reading Jeremiah 11:11. That passage reads, “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.’” Those familiar with Jeremiah know it isn't the lightest book, but it does contain some hopeful passages. 11:11 isn't really one of them, but it does set the stage for what we're going to see in this film. And, as a bonus, probably drove many people to crack open a Bible (or at least a Bible Website) this last weekend. It's also an example of the depth and style of Peele the director. He uses a lot of interesting cultural references in his works, and even Scripture, to make a horror film that's about more than cheap scares. And that's what makes him one of the most fascinating voices in film today. (And TV, for that matter, where he helped with "Weird City" and is about to launch "The Twilight Zone" for CBS All Access on Monday.) Peele's feature film debut, "Get Out," caught many by surprise. It became a huge hit, one that carried the writer/director through awards season. He even took home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. So there was a lot of hype around "Us," and while it's a very different film in terms of setting, story and larger social theme, it's just as well crafted. This time he taps a fellow Oscar winner, Nyong'o, to take the lead. And each of the actors in the film is tasked with carrying a heavy burden, as they play duel roles. And each is brilliant at that duality at times. This is a film that has some fun beats, some great performances, and some fantastic visuals. It creates suspense, holds you on the edge of your seat, and delivers a well crafted story. Nyong'o will get a lot of praise for her work, and rightly so, but I was also taken with Moss, who has one of the most expressive faces in the business, and Duke, who has a charming and centering role in this film. Peele is incredibly talented and has a vision. Some may not take to this film or appreciate the themes, which is an exploration I'll let you enjoy yourself as it has a lot to do with the plot. I didn't love "Get Out" as much as some, and I actually think I enjoyed this film more. Those are quibbles about personal taste. But what's undeniable is that Peele is a talented writer/director who is doing bold new things with the genre, and I can't wait to see what he does next.
Rating: Rated R for violence/terror, and language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:
Friday, March 29: "Dumbo," "The Beach Bum," "Unplanned," "The Hotel Mumbai"

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