What is the twist in Get Out?
Released in 2017, “Get Out” is a critically acclaimed horror-thriller film written and directed by Jordan Peele. The movie follows a young Black man named Chris Washington, who visits the family of his white girlfriend, Rose Armitage, for the weekend. Chris uncovers a horrifying truth about the Armitage family as the weekend progresses, culminating in a shocking twist that stunned audiences. We will delve deeper into the twist in “Get Out,” examining its significance in the context of the movie, its impact on audiences and critics alike, and the various clues and foreshadowing that lead up to it. The film stars the likes of Allison Williams (Rose), Daniel Kaluuya (Chris), Catherine Keener (Missy), Marcus Henderson (Walter), Bradley Whitford (Dean), Betty Gabriel (Georgina), and Caleb Landry Jones (Jeremy) in a contemporary horror movie the comments on race in the United States.
Plot summary
“Get Out” follows the story of Chris Washington, a young Black man dating a white woman named Rose Armitage. The couple decides to visit Rose’s parents for a weekend in the suburbs. Upon arrival, Chris encounters unsettling and uncomfortable interactions with Rose’s family and their predominantly white friends. As the weekend progresses, strange occurrences begin to happen, such as Chris being hypnotized by Rose’s mother (where he ends up in the sunken place like the home’s black servants) and witnessing bizarre behavior from the other guests like the housekeeper. Chris becomes increasingly suspicious of the Armitage family’s intentions, and his fears are confirmed when he discovers that they have been luring Black people to their homes to undergo a procedure where their consciousness is transferred into the bodies of white people.
The twist comes when it is revealed that Rose, who Chris believed to be his ally and love interest, is complicit in her family’s plan and has been luring Black men to their homes for years. Chris can ultimately escape the Armitage’s clutches with the help of his friend, Rod Williams, but only after facing numerous dangers and obstacles. This revelation subverts the audience’s expectations and adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, as Chris must not only survive the dangerous situation he finds himself in but also confront the betrayal of someone he cares for.
The twist
The twist in “Get Out” is that Rose, the white girlfriend of the protagonist Chris, is not the ally she appears to be. Instead, she is revealed to be an active participant in her family’s horrifying plan to transplant white people’s brains into Black people’s bodies. Chris, who initially believes that Rose is on his side, is shocked and betrayed by the real reason for his girlfriend’s duplicity. The twist is significant because it adds a layer of complexity to the narrative and challenges the audience’s preconceived notions about race relations. At the film’s beginning, Rose is portrayed as a progressive and supportive girlfriend who is aware of Chris‘s challenges as a Black man in America. The twist subverts these expectations and reveals that Rose is, in fact, a key player in a racist and insidious system that has been in place for generations. The twist is particularly crucial because it emphasizes racism’s insidious nature and how it may show in supposedly progressive people. Rose embodies the “white savior” archetype common in media, where white people are depicted as saving people of color from their plight. However, the twist shows that this archetype is not always what it seems and that racism can exist even among those claiming to be allies.
The twist in “Get Out” has been compared to other movies with similar plot twists, such as “The Sixth Sense” and “The Usual Suspects.” In all these movies, the twist subverts the audience’s expectations and creates a more compelling and thought-provoking narrative. The twist in “Get Out” is a crucial element of the film that adds depth and complexity to the story. It challenges the audience to confront their preconceived notions about race and allyship and serves as a powerful commentary on the insidious nature of racism.
Foreshadowing and clues
The twist in “Get Out” is expertly foreshadowed throughout the film, with numerous clues and hints leading up to the revelation about Rose’s true nature. Here are some examples of the foreshadowing and clues: Rose’s attitude towards Chris‘s race: Throughout the film, Rose appears to support Chris and his experiences as a Black man. However, on closer inspection, she often speaks for him, disregards his wishes, and puts him in uncomfortable situations. This behavior foreshadows her ultimate betrayal of him. The Armitage family’s comments: The Armitage family and their friends make several comments throughout the film that hint at their true intentions. Rose’s father, for example, tells Chris that if he could, he would have voted for Obama for a third term, demonstrating a performative attitude regarding race. The other guests also make inappropriate comments and micro-aggressions toward Chris, highlighting their underlying racism.
The hypnosis: Rose’s mother hypnotizes Chris early in the film to help him quit smoking. This scene is a subtle indication of the Armitage family’s ultimate plan to control and manipulate Chris‘s mind.
The photographs: Throughout the film, Chris notices several framed pictures of Rose with other Black men in the Armitage’s home.
This foreshadows the revelation that Rose has lured other Black men to the house before and is complicit in her family’s plan.
The phone call: In the film’s climax, Chris is on the phone with his friend Rod, who works as a TSA agent.
Rod tells Chris that he has discovered something disturbing about the Armitage family, but Chris initially dismisses his friend’s concerns. This moment of disbelief from Chris is a subtle hint to the audience that Chris may not be aware of the full extent of Rose’s involvement in the family’s plan. These examples of foreshadowing and clues make the twist in “Get Out” even more impactful and surprising. They also highlight the attention to detail and careful crafting of the film’s narrative by writer and director Jordan Peele.
Reaction to the twist
The twist in “Get Out” was met with widespread acclaim and shock from audiences and critics alike. Many viewers were taken by surprise by the revelation that Rose, who initially appeared to be a supportive and progressive ally to Chris, was complicit in her family’s plan to transplant white people’s brains into Black people’s bodies. The twist added a layer of complexity and depth to the film’s narrative and challenged viewers’ preconceived notions about race relations. The twist also sparked essential conversations about the insidious nature of racism and how it can manifest even in seemingly progressive individuals. Many viewers saw the film as a powerful commentary on the complexities of allyship and a warning against performative activism that fails to address systemic issues.
Conclusion
The twist in “Get Out” is a significant element of the film that adds depth, complexity, and meaning to the story. By revealing that Rose, the protagonist’s girlfriend, is complicit in her family’s racist plan, the film challenges viewers’ assumptions about allyship and the insidious nature of racism. The twist is expertly foreshadowed throughout the film, with numerous clues and hints leading up to the revelation, adding to the impact of the plot twist. The twist in “Get Out” has been widely praised for its ability to subvert audience expectations and elevate the film to a new level of storytelling. It has sparked meaningful conversations about allyship, performative activism, and the complexities of race relations. The twist is crucial to the film’s success and its enduring legacy as a powerful commentary on racism and social justice in America.