silver lining

NOPE (2022) dir. Jordan Peele

KEKE PALMER and DANIEL KALUUYA NOPE 2022 — dir. Jordan Peele

NOPE — 2022 dir. Jordan Peele

WLW MEME: [2/8] film characters — emerald haywood (nope)

Keke Palmer as Emerald Haywood in NOPE (2022), dir. Jordan Peele

Some "bad miracles" in Nope. (Or rather bad things that were inadvertently miracles and vice versa.)

The power outtages. It's something that we normally see as a an inconvenience, same as our cell phones suddenly going out. But the lack of light/sound (the house going dark, the car stopping, the music cutting, the phone call dropping) is what essentially hides our main characters thoughout the movie.

The shoe standing upright during Gordy's massacre. While the byproduct of something horrific, its what essentially keeps Jupe alive, by distracting him long enough during the rampage for the actor that played the father to take Gordy's attention away from the room that Jupe was hiding in. (Also the birthday balloons --normally seen as a gift-- being what sets Gordy off.)

Money falling from the sky. Something that's commonly thought of as a miracle, a dream scenario, being what killed Otis Sr.

OJ having to sell the horses to Jupe (bad) being what kept Jean Jacket from seeking food at the Ranch for half a year.

Angel getting trapped in a tarp AND barb wire while trying to run from Jean Jacket being what actually kept him from being eaten.

Em accidentally photo-bombing some kids (bad for them) being what allows her to finally take a photo of JJ when all their other plans have failed. (Also shoutout to the mantis that just so happened to cover the camera for the entire time that Jean was attacking, only for it to leave right after. I'd say that can fit in here too.)

The motocyclist showing up in the middle of the main characters' big plan. While inconvient for them pre-crash, and awful for the cyclist post-crash, he and his reflective helmet actually completely draw and keep JJ's attention long enough for OJ to make it to safety. Much like how the vfx ball spooked and irritated Lucky, the helmet most likely did the same for JJ and completely derailed her focus from both OJ and the horse.

And finally, the "rain" of blood/saliva from Jean Jacket falling on the house. This one has isn't immediately obvious but it's pretty safe to say that it's a refence to water bring turned into blood in Exodus. While a miracle from God for his people, yes, it was both a plague and punishment for the Egyptians.

Nope (2022) is such a brilliant movie in so many ways. It’s about the inherent evil of spectacle. It’s about Hollywood’s abuse of animals. It’s about stealing and erasing black history. It’s about how personification is ultimately a bad thing. It’s about trauma. It’s about the never ending cycle of abuse that comes from exploitation. It’s about predator and prey. It’s about looking up to the heavens in awe. It’s about averting your gaze lest you be punished. It’s about respecting animals. It’s about the way poc are treated in media. It’s about how far some people will go for money. It’s an alien movie but it’s a monster movie but it’s a western but it’s a si-fi and it’s the best movie I’ve ever seen.