The Plot Twist in ‘Us’ Doesn’t Work Without Lupita Nyong’o

The big picture

• The double role of Lupita Nyong'o a
  We
  as Adelaide and Red penetrate the heart of the film, showing their versatility and nuanced acting skills.
• Nyong'o's physical performance as both characters offers subtle hints that foreshadow the film's plot twist, allowing the reveal to feel logical and deserved.
• The moral complexities a
  We
  challenges viewers to question who they should root for, with Nyong'o's dual portrayal adding depth and balance to the narrative.

Lupita Nyong'o has established himself as one of the best horror actors of the 21st century with his turn in the recently released A Quiet Place: First Day receiving great applause. However, it is his performance Jordan Peelesophomore movie Wewho will be more recognizable to fans of the genre, and is often at the center of the conversation about recent Oscar-worthy horror roles, along with Toni Collette in Hereditary. But her role as Adelaide and Red is much more than a great performance: is the backbone of the entire film. Although at first glance the bound are the film's antagonists due to their violent and deranged actions, the film's final revelations call this into question and as an audience you feel a little sympathetic to his situation. The engine of this sympathy is the revelation that Adelaide and Red switched places when they were youngand the audience learns that the Adelaide they've been rooting for throughout the film was born underground.

In review, Nyong'o's movements and mannerisms throughout the film act as subtle hints that Adelaide's preoccupation has a different root cause than the rest of her family.. It makes sure the reveal of the switch seems logical and earned and not implausible to the audience. Her performance not only shows her ability to play two contrasting roles and be her own stage partner; screw up the whole movie.

“Us” uses its antagonists to explore morality

Jordan Peele places social commentary at the center of his films and forces the audience to look inward and consider their place in the world. The ethical dilemma in We centers around the creation of the Tethered, the result of a failed government cloning experiment. Since the experiment failed to recreate the human soul, these doppelgängers are empty shells forced to live underground and mimic the actions of their above-ground counterparts. The revelation of his origin forces the audience to question the motives behind his actions. When he realizes that their desire for revenge stems from their complete lack of action, there is a feeling of pity for them.

Despite this sympathetic stance, the film still encourages you to root for the Wilson family. Empathy for the Tethered does not replace the heroes' desire to make it out alive. However, Lupita Nyong'o's performance casts a shadow of doubt on this and represents the gray area of ​​morality in We. It forces the audience to question who they should be rooting for. Speaking to Deadline, he explained that “I was playing with both sides of the argument, selling one for the other.” In his creation of Red and Adelaide, he didn't just present good versus evil, as both characters are much more nuanced than that. They are intrinsically connected, so it creates balance and offers both sides of the narrative, allowing the audience to take an active role and decipher their version of events for themselves.

Lupita Nyong'o Creates Two Different Characters in 'Us'

Lupita Nyong'o truly embodies both Red and Adelaide, using physical differences in her performance to separate the two and reflect their defined characters. Adelaide is a “seeker of normalcy”, she is simply trying to get by and this is reflected in her stooped posture. Nyong'o intentionally wanted to show someone hiding something, with subtle hints that her apprehension might have deeper meanings. When the Tethered version of the family pulls into the driveway, Adelaide is nervous and frantic. Their nervousness seems heavier, while the rest of the family is mostly bewildered at the sight of figures that look exactly like them. When Red begins to speak, Adelaide never seems shocked by her existence; she knows exactly what's going on.

In contrast, Red is much simpler, focused and goal-oriented. Unlike Adelaide, it has nothing at stake and therefore nothing to lose. Nyong'o told Deadline that Jordan Peele described her as “having this regalness, and also a cockroach quality,” she's unpredictable and her movement is erratic, but she's strong and confident. During the first watch, this composure is unsettling as it creates a sense of inevitability and hopelessness. However, learning the truth behind Adelaide/Red's childhood, Red's wide, sinister smile is filled with revenge. His mastery of the situation comes from the belief that he deserves his life. Through Red, Nyong'o shows his versatility as an actor, playing a complex and truly creepy villain (or hero?)

The ending of 'Us' is based on Lupita Nyong'o's performance

There's a balance to Nyong'o's performance as Red that not only contrasts with Adelaide, but also indicates that she's not like the other Tethered. Tethered are manic and impulsive, but they are also easy to manipulate. Red's presence is more grounded and immediately sets her apart from the others. This is augmented by Red's ability to communicate, as she not only grunts, but speaks in a strained mumble. Nyong'o immediately shows the audience that Red is different, establishing the revelation that was born above ground so that it does not come out of nowhere. She uses her performance to plant the seeds of the plot twist throughout the film.

The contrast between Red and Adelaide is most evident when the pair come face to face at the film's climax. When Adelaide is fighting for her life, she is anxious and it shows in the way she is aimlessly swinging her pipe in her hand and standing hunched over. She is unstable and restless because she knows the extent of Red's wrath. On the other hand, Red's movement feels robotic and calculated; she is constantly standing and pacing around Adelaide, seemingly predicting her movements. With the couple in hiding, Red almost plays on Adelaide's fear of being in a place she thought she'd never return to, and her worry about never getting her son back. There is a change, and the roles are reversed. Red is no longer forced to imitate Adelaide: she is now the puppeteer.

The resolution of We it is not decided who is wrong and who is right. The final moment where Adelaide's son Jason (Evan Alex), looks at her with a look of discomfort and hostility suggesting that she knows her mother was originally a Tethered. It doesn't confirm that the film believes his actions were wrong, but it does open up a dialogue about the ethics of his actions. Nyong'o said that being able to play Red and Adelaide, and seeing both sides of the argument was “therapy for both of us”. The emotional weight of her actions balanced out, and she was able to leave it all in the film. We it offers two different perspectives and Nyong'o sets them apart with her physical performance, but also shows how they are intrinsically connected. It allows both characters to have purpose and motivation and forces the audience to question whether they are wrong or if the problem is the system itself. Performance of Lupita Nyong'o a We is not only one of the best in horror history, but the film's success is entirely based on it.

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