Last year, "Get Out" landed Jordan Peele an Oscar (among its three other nominations) for Best Original Screenplay for the satirical psychological thriller/horror tale that touched on issues of race and privilege. Last May, the writer/director announced that his new project would reflect the themes of "Get Out" without being a super similar story, and the trailer for "Us" absolutely scared us silly.
From the looks of it, the enemy in "Us" will be less about the "other" that "Get Out" emphasized and more about our own inner monsters. Star of the movie and Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o, it seems, is embracing that motif big time.
When the cast stepped out at the London screening of the film ahead of its March 22 release, Nyong'o was nothing short of frightful in her bright red contacts. Part "Twilight" vampire and part bloodthirsty divorcee, it's obvious that Nyong'o was made to head a horror flick. Combined with her meta smoky eye and deep plum lipstick, the actress served a look that, frankly, I'd be afraid to stand next to in a dark room.
A far cry from her past red carpet looks, which vibed more with Disney princesses and included lots of tulle.
Nyong'o's makeup artist Nick Barose told Vogue that he drew inspiration from '80s icons for the devilish look.
“We wanted to avoid pretty red carpet looks and be more experimental, taking wicked beauty ideas from fierce women in '80s music videos who really played with makeup that echoed their strong powerful attitude,” he said.
I think the horror genre just found its new dark queen.