Get Out (2017)

Spoon. Teacup. Clink. The scariest sound in modern horror costs about as much as a garage sale, and the final act never quite tops it. That’s my one real gripe: once the polite smiles drop, Get Out becomes a sharper version of a regular horror escape, and the dread that made the first hour so suffocating loosens its grip. Before that, it’s close to perfect. Daniel Kaluuya does more with one frozen stare than most actors do with a monologue. Bradley Whitford plays the most uncomfortable host in film, and Lil Rel Howery’s Rod is the funniest best friend horror has ever had. Jordan Peele made it for a reported $4.5 million and pulled in $176 million domestic, a magic trick all by itself. A 9.1 because every awkward moment at that party turns out to be a clue. $26.37 says someone taps a spoon on a mug near you this week and your shoulders hit your ears.

What works: Daniel Kaluuya’s face, Lil Rel Howery’s comic timing, and a script where every awkward bit of party chat turns out to matter.

What doesn’t: The final act becomes a more standard horror escape, and a couple of the reveals get explained a little too neatly.

Who it’s for: Horror fans who like a movie they’ll want to rewatch immediately to catch every clue.