Oscars 2018: What Get Out’s win means for the horror genre
By Wesley Lara
In a night dominated by the unique romance, The Shape of Water, and the war drama-thriller, Dunkirk, one surprise win is still sticking in everyone’s minds following the Oscars and that is Jordan Peele’s historic Best Original Screenplay win for the satire horror, Get Out.
The Oscars have given recognition to some of the finest examples of classic cinema since its conception 90 years ago. The very best and most well-liked of cinema is rewarded for the hard work and effort put into making the film a reality. However, with all this recognition over a wide variety of films, there’s a certain group of films that seem to go unrecognized for their contribution to cinema and that is the horror film. Unfairly classified as a trashy portion of cinema, horror has unfortunately fallen to the wayside of the Academy, for the most part, having to climb a much more difficult mountain to gain its just dues. At the 90th Academy Awards, things seemed to finally look up with the Best Original Screenplay Oscar being handed to none other than Jordan Peele for his satirical horror hit, Get Out.
A double whammy of a film, elevating horror to a new level while speaking brutal truths about racial tension in America, Get Out mixed entertainment value with the passion of film as an art form to create the rare horror gem that can be watched and appreciated by all, regardless of skin color, sexual orientation, etc. In winning the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, the film could very well become one of the biggest trailblazers in recent memory. But why so? Why does a horror film about THAT awkward white dad trying to be hip for black people transcend beyond the standard horror fare?
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Who doesn’t love a great scare?
One of the biggest records set by Get Out is defined by its often maligned genre. With the win, Get Out has become the first horror film in the 90 year history of the Oscars to be recognized for its writing, which marks new windows of opportunities for horror filmmakers in the future. The genre, though certainly a thriving genre in terms of audience popularity, has hardly gotten a chance to shine among the company of the Academy voters. It’s rare enough for a horror film to be recognized in ANY category, much less something on the level of Best Original Screenplay. Even the nomination process was tough on horror this year, with the screenplay nominees being filled with equally acclaimed screenplays that could’ve easily gone home with the gold.
Alas, it was Jordan Peele, and ultimately horror’s night at the Oscars, as Get Out‘s layered, smart and terrifyingly honest screenplay marked a serious change for the state of the horror genre at future ceremonies. Horror provides the filmmaker with a large sandbox to create absolutely anything they please, considering the genre’s willingness to break the fabric of reality and logic. Chances for filmmakers to be creative in their filmmaking process is one of many important qualities that the horror genre possesses and with its recognition at the Oscars, a wider acceptance may finally become a reality for the future.
A true trailblazer
Get Out‘s screenplay win at the Oscars may be just what the doctor ordered in terms of breathing new life to the genre and paving the path for future horror classics down the line. Now I’m not just saying this to be flattering, but really: the success of Get Out has been nothing short of monumental and incredibly unexpected. Not only is the story very risky from a political standpoint, with its strong commentary on racism in America, but the fact that such a story would be told from the perspective of a horror film seemed to be the nail in the coffin for the film. Now, it’s March 2018, Get Out has grossed over $200 million worldwide, attained critical acclaim and can now boast about being an Oscar winner.
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With that type of monster success, one can only hope that filmmakers are somehow inspired by Jordan Peele’s historic win, also becoming the first black person to win the Best Original Screenplay Oscar in the process. Opening new doors for filmmakers of color and genre filmmakers, Peele could very well be one of the earliest trailblazers for the successes of future horror smash hits. It may not have won Best Picture or Best Director, but Get Out is a film that seems more and more likely to resonate with audiences of the future, as well as the present. Get Out is most definitely a modern horror classic and one that Jordan Peele should feel absolutely proud of.
Congratulations to Jordan Peele on his Best Original Screenplay Oscar win for Get Out, which is out now on streaming and disc media.