For months crowds have been pouring into theaters, desperately hoping to see an original, satisfying thriller, in an age where a vast majority of movies that succeed at the box office are shameless reboots and sequels to older films which could have been left perfectly alone. From the mind of Jordan Peele, most commonly known from his time as half of the sketch comedy duo “Key and Peele”, comes not only one of the most enthralling original thrillers in years, but one of the best original films in months.

In an age where big-budget blockbusters seem to have a monopoly on the top of the box office charts, the odds were stacked against Peele from the very beginning. With a budget barely exceeding $4 million, Get Out destroyed box office competitors who were dealing with much higher sums of money, such as Collide, Rock Dog, and Fist Fight. Additionally, it not only teaches audiences valuable lessons regarding racism, but it has amassed an unimaginable amount of critical acclaim since its release, earning 8.1/10 stars on imdb.com, and a 99% score on rottentomatoes.com.

However the question still stands: Is Get Out truly the masterpiece that the media has made it out to be? Of course, the only way to truly know is to watch the film, but if you can not find the time, then I will do my best to answer the question for you.

Without spoiling more than necessary, Get Out tells the story of an interracial couple, Chris and Rose, who go to visit the family of Rose, a white woman, but quickly realizes that something just isn’t right. The strongest element of the film is the creative and innovative script, by a relatively large margin. Peele demonstrates his trademark creativity with the extremely clever and somewhat subtle signs which are used to gradually build the tension, while simultaneously delivering useful exposition. In doing this, Peele ensures that the movie does not overstay its welcome, while still telling a complete, satisfying, and intriguing story. Two other major strengths that Get Out has are the masterful acting and extraordinary pacing. Lead actor Daniel Kaluuya delivers an incredibly authentic performance as the protagonist, Chris. Kaluuya manages to deliver a mind blowing performance filled with authenticity, from his convincing line delivery to his eerily realistic body language. Allison Williams (Rose), LiRel Howery (Rod), and the rest of the supporting cast all deliver extremely solid performances to complement Kaluuya, though none quite compare to his brilliance. Peele does a truly wonderful job of pacing the film, as he is able to keep the movie suspenseful and interesting for the first act, increase the intensity in the second act, and finish strong with an impactful ending that audiences will not soon forget. At no point does the film feel rushed or does it drag on, it is as close to a perfect balance as one can get.

This movie only had one major shortcoming, though it ultimately did not do much to hinder my enjoyment of the film. A few times throughout the film, there are manufactured jump-scares, or jump-scares that would not occur in the movie’s universe. For example, at one point in Get Out, a character is seen lurking in the background, and when the character reveals herself, the director inserts a slam, which some view as a cheap or even lazy way to scare the audience.

Get Out is one of the most dynamic films of 2017, working perfectly on nearly every level, all the while seamlessly working in valuable social commentary without it seeming forced or heavy-handed. Jordan Peele certainly exceeds all expectations in his directorial debut, but don’t just take my word for it, catch it in theaters while you still can!