Nope Review (2022) – A spine-tingling roller coaster of suspense, shocks, the unexpected and laughter!

Spooky season is in full swing, and we've got a cinematic treat that's sure to send shivers down your spine! We’re going to be entering the intriguing world of NOPE, a fresh and fascinating sci-fi horror comedy that's perfectly suited for the eerie atmosphere of Halloween. As we continue to embrace the supernatural and uncanny this month, join us on a journey into the mysterious and the unexplained. NOPE is one of our recent favorites, and blends the best of science fiction, horror, and humor.

 Some trigger warnings before we get into it: violence, animal distress, jump scares, intense scenes, dark themes, alien themes, gore, psychological stress, disturbing imagery, loud noises, dark humor, and exploitation themes.

We will do everything we can to not give too many spoilers in this review but there are likely to be some, so please take that into consideration and read cautiously.

Let's dive in!

The film starts with a Bible quote: Nahum 3:6 - "I will cast abominable filth upon you, make you vile and make you a spectacle." A cryptic hint of the otherworldly journey that’s about to unfold.

The first thing we see as the film starts is a sitcom set in bloody chaos. It looks like a tornado went through the building. A bewildered, bloody chimpanzee wanders around the set, settling down near one of the couches on the set before looking around and locking eyes with the camera. We potatoes were left wondering, "WTF happened here and why is this chimp staring into our souls?" The scene abruptly cuts.

Next, we meet Otis Haywood Sr. (Keith David) and his son, Otis Junior (Daniel Kaluuya) who goes by OJ for short. We get a short montage of a horse ranch and some of the work that’s involved with running and exercising the horses. This happens to be “Haywood's Hollywood Horses”, a ranch where they train and care for horses used in film and TV.

During a brief interaction between father and son where Otis Sr. starts nagging OJ about where OJ’s sister is and why she isn’t helping at the ranch, the power suddenly goes out and cell service drops as well! Screams fill the air in the distance, and debris starts raining from the sky with sharp “thwip” sounds as each item falls and lands hard like little bullets!

Unfortunately for Otis Sr., he is struck by a falling coin and it happens to go straight through his eye. OJ tries desperately to save his father, but Otis Sr. succumbs to his injury shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Back at the ranch, the mystery deepens when OJ discovers a key strangely impaled into one of their horses. We were so taken aback by this scene and felt terrible for the poor horse. Can you imagine just having a damn key lodged in the meat of your ass?? Ouch!

But wait, there's more! The opening credits roll in, accompanied by a bold green square that zooms in on an old school motion picture of a Black man gracefully riding a horse.

Fast forward six months, and we find OJ waiting for his sister, Em, on a bustling movie set. Their star horse, Lucky, is all set for a shoot. OJ seems very reserved as he quietly informs the director that he is waiting on his team before they can start.

With all the impatient set staff waiting on him to conduct a safety briefing, OJ gets started, keeping his gaze low as he speaks about Haywood Hollywood Horses. Suddenly, Em, OJ’s sister, finally arrives and takes over the safety briefing.

She introduces herself as Emerald (Keke Palmer) and runs through the safety briefing like a pro, all the while explaining that their ancestor was the star of the very first motion picture ever. That star was the jockey on the horse in the old school motion picture clip we saw earlier!

She’s a stark contrast to OJ’s reserved and quiet nature. She comes out with charisma and energy going through the entire safety briefing! We absolutely LOVED Keke Palmer in the role! Her performance is so much fun and we couldn’t get enough of her throughout the rest of the film! But, back to the film!

The staff on set don’t seem to care about Lucky's well-being, and their lack of consideration for the horse ends up causing an accident. The result? The Haywoods are given the boot from the project, and Lucky's role is snatched by a VFX horse.

Financial troubles are looming over the Haywood family, pushing them to explore new horizons. That's when they cross paths with Ricky "Jupe" Park (Steven Yeun), a former child actor who now runs Jupiter's Claim, a Western-themed amusement park just down the road from the Haywood Ranch.

Jupe's got some stories to tell, especially about a chaotic SNL sketch from his childhood involving a wild chimp on the set of a sitcom called “Gordy's Home”. He even makes an offer to buy the Haywood ranch, a decision that Em nudges OJ to consider. It's a choice that sets the stage for a whole lot of excitement.

As night falls and OJ and Em head back home, Em takes a trip down memory lane. She reminisces about a promise from their father that she would be the one to train her first horse, lovingly named Jean Jacket. But, her father had other plans, and the horse ended up being trained by her dad and OJ to star in a film. We felt for Em in this scene. We get some context as to why she’s been reluctant to come back to the ranch for so long.

You know how some books have chapters headings that give you brief clues about what's coming next? Well, 'NOPE' does something similar but with a twist. The film is neatly divided into chapters, each with a title referring to the name of one of the horses on the ranch.

One of these chapters is aptly titled "GHOST."

In "GHOST," OJ heads to the ranch’s arena and, surprise, he finds Ghost there. But that's not the weird part. The really odd stuff happens when OJ spots something in the distance—several lights and a voice playing over loudspeakers. It's like an otherworldly show is about to begin. But just as you think you've got it figured out, the lights go out, the voice fades, and Ghost bolts, leaving OJ baffled and slightly spooked. It's like the calm before a cosmic storm.

As other horses on the ranch start acting all kinds of crazy, and the Haywood home experiences yet another unsettling power outage, OJ's gaze is drawn to the night sky. And what does he see? A flying saucer. Yes, an actual UFO. It's like something out of a classic sci-fi movie!

With their world suddenly flipped upside down, Em and OJ take matters into their own hands. They're determined to capture evidence of this enigmatic flying saucer. So, what do they do? They go camera shopping at a nearby Fry’s Electronics store.

Side note, we potatoes are very familiar with this particular chain of electronics stores and went often as kiddos, so it was kind of fun to see Fry’s getting some love in the film!

Of course, I’m sure they had to pay to be featured, but it was still kinda fun! Back to the film - OJ and Em pick up several fancy security cameras to document their experiences with the UFO. As they’re checking out, they enlist the help of Angel Torres (Brandon Perea), a hilarious, jaded staff member, to help them set up these cameras. He's not just tech-savvy, but he's also a bit of a UFO enthusiast!

As the trio gets together, Angel shares his own take on aliens and UFOs, most of which is all conspiracy theories from a show called “Ancient Aliens”. If you haven’t seen “Ancient Aliens” before, it’s a hilarious History channel show that basically attributes every ancient human accomplishment to the presence and influence of aliens! – We potatoes don’t subscribe to any of the theories presented in the show, but it’s still a hell of a lot of fun to watch! The memes that it’s spawned are particularly good! “Ancient astronaut theorists say: YES!”

But we digress!

After having set up all the cameras, Em has another bold plan, and it involves a clever twist. She swipes a display horse from Jupiter's Claim, Jupe's Western-themed amusement park. This isn't just any horse; it's a metal statue/decoy. Em plans to use it to lure out whatever's lurking up there in the skies. It's like a cosmic cat-and-mouse game, and you can't help but root for Em and her daring plan.

But, of course, Jupe can't help but notice his missing display horse. He's a curious character, to say the least. He shows up at the ranch to question Em, but she's quick on her feet and manages to bluff her way out of the situation. Jupe even extends an invitation to an event he’s hosting at Jupiter’s Claim, but the brochure is whisked away by the wind.

That’s where we’re going to wrap things up! The remainder of the film is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing and wondering how they’re going to capture the evidence they’re looking for and keep the UFO from taking their horses!

As you can see, 'NOPE' keeps you on your toes, with a mix of the mysterious, the supernatural, and a strong dash of humor. It's like a roller coaster ride through the unknown and we had an absolute blast watching and reviewing this one!

'NOPE' blends elements of science fiction, family drama, and cosmic horror into an unforgettable cinematic experience. Directed by Jordan Peele, this film ventures far beyond the boundaries of typical genre fare, much like his other works.

One of the most intriguing aspects of 'NOPE' is its ability to combine a range of genres seamlessly. It moves from a family drama following the Haywood siblings, Em and OJ, to a sci-fi thriller as they unravel the mystery behind the UFO that has been abducting their horses. The blend of these genres adds layers of complexity to the storyline, making it difficult to predict where the plot will lead. In addition, Keke Palmer’s portrayal of Emerald is absolutely phenomenal! We couldn’t help but love her screen presence throughout the film and the character is such a brilliant contrast to the somber and quiet OJ!

Another one of the more compelling aspects of 'NOPE' is the antagonist itself—the UFO, which the Haywoods nickname "Jean Jacket." This entity defies traditional sci-fi tropes. It's not a typical alien spaceship, but something altogether different. We potatoes got some major Star Trek vibes from the whole premise of this particular type of extraterrestrial and we are here for it!

The design and portrayal of Jean Jacket are haunting and distinctive, creating a sense of unease that lingers throughout the film. It's not just a physical presence but a psychological threat that kept us on the edge of our seats.

The film does a remarkable job of shedding light on the often-overlooked issue of animal mistreatment in the entertainment industry. It's a theme that runs deep and underscores the dark side of showbiz, where animals are sometimes regarded as simple tools for profit and spectacle.

The character of Ricky "Jupe" Park, portrayed by Steven Yeun, serves as a compelling example. Jupe is a former child actor who now operates Jupiter's Claim, the Western-themed amusement park. He represents a striking dichotomy.

On the one hand, he's a character who is profiting off the very creatures he once interacted with as a child actor. On the other, he struggles with his traumatic experience on the set of Gordy’s home. Jupe’s story is a reflection of the industry's tendency to exploit animals for financial gain. His attempt to profit from "Jean Jacket," the enigmatic presence in the film, is a stark reminder of how the allure of profit can overshadow ethical considerations.

This theme is mirrored in the traumatic incident from Jupe's child acting days. He recalls a harrowing experience on the set of Gordy's Home, a sitcom featuring a chimpanzee named Gordy. During the shoot, the lack of consideration for Gordy and the blatant disregard for his stress levels leads to chaotic and violent behavior, leaving Jupe and others traumatized. This recollection serves as a poignant commentary on the real-life mistreatment and exploitation of animals in the entertainment industry.

Conversely, we have the character of OJ, portrayed by Daniel Kaluuya. OJ's life revolves around caring for horses at the Haywood ranch. He knows the animals intimately, respecting their boundaries and understanding their nature. Unlike Jupe, who sees animals as assets for profit, OJ perceives them as living beings deserving of respect and care.

The film's exploration of these characters' perspectives on animals underscores the stark contrast between exploiting animals for profit and treating them with empathy and respect. OJ's character embodies the idea that animals can be tamed and worked with if you take the time to understand them, emphasizing the importance of humane treatment.

"NOPE" delves into the complex relationships between humans and animals, showcasing the stark contrast between exploitation and empathy. Through OJ's character, the film highlights the importance of understanding and humane treatment, challenging viewers to confront the ethical dilemmas in the entertainment industry. The scenes featuring Gordy evoke a mix of horror and sadness, emphasizing the confusion and fear animals experience amidst chaos. After all the mayhem, Gordy appears truly confused as to what’s happened. He looks scared and alone. Our hearts ached for him, despite all the craziness of the rest of the scene.

As animal lovers, we resonate deeply with the film's message, urging society to reevaluate our treatment of animals. "NOPE" acts as a powerful mirror, reflecting uncomfortable truths about animal mistreatment in Hollywood and sparking essential conversations about our responsibilities to all of the creatures that we share our world with. Honestly, it’s the best portrayal of this theme that we’ve ever seen in cinema so far.

Overall, we had an absolutely great time watching this film! We loved it! Everything blends together so well and there is never a dull moment. So, if you’re a fan of horror, sci-fi, comedy, or just fantastic, and believable characters, then this is the movie for you!

We give NOPE 5 out of 5 Galaxy Cocktails!

The Nope Drinking Game

Take a sip anytime:

1.     OJ mentions his horses

2.     Emerald swears

3.     Emerald vapes

4.     Angel is snarky

5.     Angel talks about UFOs, UAPs, Aliens, etc.

6.     Jupe is weird

7.     Anyone says "Nope"

8.     Anyone or anything is abducted

9.     Anyone mentions Gordy or Gordy's birthday

10.  Anyone says OJ

11.  Anyone dies

12.  There's a title card on screen

13.  The UFO is on screen

14.  Chimpanzee on screen (Gordy)

15.  A horse or multiple horses on screen

16.  Power goes out or surges

17.  Electronics or any mechanics malfunction

What did you think? Did you like the movie? Did you hate it? What movies should we watch? Any and all thoughts are welcome! Let us know here in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly!