Film Analysis: Get Out

A victim is someone who feels ostracized by an oppressor or multiple oppressors. A victim is someone who feels uncomfortable in a setting, feeling unwelcomed, and feeling targeted. Get Out shows the story of Chris as he meets his white girlfriend’s parents for the first time, and in meeting them he becomes a victim to her family’s wickedness. Get Out is a film that provides insight to the views of African-Americans in society and how they feel as the victim in more ways than the White-Americans because they are expected to behave in ways that are not true to their character, beast like, and subordinate. The idea that African Americans are the victim rather than the oppressor is a new take on a drawn-out tale. Through the use of non-diegetic
As we saw in Silence of the Lambs, the beginning scene has the camera surveying the land and following the subject of interest, Clarice. As she runs through the woods, the camera’s angles allude to the idea that someone is watching her through the thickness of the trees. In similar respects to Silence of the Lambs, Get Out starts to introduce the main characters, Chris and Rose, by using crosscutting. As the camera closes in on Chris, it stays at an over the shoulder shot, watching him through a mirror reflection as he shaves. The shot itself is one that suggests that Chris is being watched which promotes the emotion of fear. As this scene is being shown, Childish Gambino’s song, Redbone, non-diegetic music, plays. The song is emphasizing the words “stay woke” growing louder as the camera gets closer to Chris. The lyrics infer that Chris will need to be aware of the people around him, especially Rose. When Chris opens the door to his apartment to let Rose in, the words “now don’t you close your eyes” are heard by the audience. These lyrics give off a negative connotation of Rose, making it seem as though Chris should be aware of his surroundings. Now that he has let Rose in, he should not drop his guard because the trouble is just beginning. While the non-diegetic plays, it allows the audience to predict what to expect, and it also seems to serve as a warning to
Fear plays an important role when it comes to victimization. Chris’ fear is best shown when he is hypnotized by Mrs. Armitage. We see a close up of Chris when he sits paralyzed, and the camera focuses on his eyes. Chris’ eyes are drowning in tears, puffy, red, and as the lids droop down, fear is all that is felt. Seeing Chris’ raw eyes in his most vulnerable state, truly expresses the sense of fear, one that embodies the soul and feelings of a victim. After exposing Chris through the close-up shot, Chris begins to sink. As Chris falls into the sunken place, a POV shot is used, allowing the audience to sink with him. Once Chris sinks down, the camera distances itself from what Chris sees, Mrs. Armitage, who slowly creeps towards his outer shell, but manages to appear distant and in a frame, like of a television. She is standing over his cast of a body and seems to be in control and power. As she closes Chris’ eyelids, he is left in the dark, alone, and full of more fear than can be