No Reviews: The First Reaction to Jordan Peele’s Thriller

Critics evaluate Jordan Peele’s UFO thriller.

It’s been three years since Us hit theaters, but the wait for a new Jordan Peele movie is almost over. Expectations couldn’t be higher as No, Peel’s latest thought-provoking genre film, opens in theaters this weekend. And if Jordan Peele fans know one thing, it’s that you should always expect the unexpected from him. Initial reactions were mostly favorable.

Anticipation for No has been building for months as the film’s cryptic trailers have ensured that the thriller will remain in the public eye without revealing anything about the plot. The film is known to feature aliens and Hollywood history, as well as the Gold Rush theme park known as Jupiter’s Claim. But now that film critics are free to express their opinions about the film, more information about the secret film is starting to flow. If waiting 72 hours to see a movie sounds absolutely torturous to you, the Twitter movie has got you covered tonight.

No was written and directed by Jordan Peele and starred Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer as siblings who run the only black-owned horse farm in Hollywood. Brandon Perea, Michael Wincott, Steven Yeun, Wrenn Schmidt, Keith David, Donna Mills, Barbie Ferreira, Devon Gray and Oz Perkins also star.

In a recent interview, Peele said that the film’s UFO plot was intended as an attempt to lure viewers back into the multiplex with a spectacle.

“The first thing I realized was that I wanted to create a spectacle. I wanted to create something that the audience would have to come and see,” Peel said. “So I set my sights on the great American UFO story.”

While it may definitely be more sci-fi than Peel’s previous work, No still contains a lot of his trademark horror. In fact, Peel says the title came about because he hoped audiences would yell “no!”

“The film itself is about the spectacle, and the good and the bad that comes from this idea of attention,” he said. “It’s a horror epic, but it has some moments that are meant to evoke a very audible reaction in the theatre.”

No will hit theaters on July 22. Keep reading for the early social media reaction to the film.

NO not of this world. A monstrous mess with great acting (especially Kaluuy) and a 50s sci-fi invasion motif. A performance about the horrors of spectacles.

Jordan Peele has been compared to Hitchcock, but NOPE shows he’s a new generation Carpenter. Enjoy the show and keep your eyes peeled. pic.twitter.com/dGKwbXg0WF

— Frank Pallotta (@frankpallotta) July 19, 2022

I really loved NOPE. Symbolism aside (quite a lot of it), I think it really works as a fun TREMORS-esque alien movie (Jordan Peele loves the movie, I found out). It’s like a throwback to a summertime alien movie. Unstoppable fun.

— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) July 19, 2022

The most important thing you need to know about NOPE is that it is very different from Get Out & Us. It’s Jordan Peele spreading his wings and making big-budget sci-fi in the style of Spielberg, but with the expected overtones. Enter with an open mind and you will be rewarded. #NoFilm

— Kevin Polovi (@djkevlar) July 19, 2022

So #NoFilm absolutely phenomenal in many ways. Perfectly combines sci-fi spectacle with a story that is also something of a Hollywood reckoning and it exceeded all my expectations. Superbly shot, the sound mix is thunderous, and the cast shines. Love love loved it. pic.twitter.com/qdcZIvsX5T

— Heather Wixon (@MMEFXBook is available now!) (@thehorrorchick) July 19, 2022

#NoFilm otherworldly, but indescribable. From cases of sheer horror to heartfelt moments between characters, #nope it’s an experience that won’t be easy to shake off when you find yourself picking your jaw off the floor. Jordan Peele did it again! @nopemovie pic.twitter.com/bUr1ad5TAx

— Shannon McGrew 🎃🍭 @ Screaming Into the Void (@shannon_mcgrew) July 19, 2022

Jordan Peel #nope this is one of the best movies i have seen this year! It’s frightening and brutal, but at the same time very funny and unlike any UFO movie you’ve ever seen. This is a totally unique and VERY entertaining horror epic full of wild surprises and an unforgettable performance by Keke Palmer. pic.twitter.com/iua9HPt0RG

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) July 19, 2022

Jordan Peele’s “No” is his most confident, unrestricted, and perhaps most controversial point of view. By swapping horror exclamation marks for sci-fi question marks, it’s less scary. With hints of Close Encounters, Jaws and more. #NoFilm this is a real puzzle. pic.twitter.com/Ny3EVaLTqW

— Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) July 19, 2022

#NoFilm this is a resounding YES. Watch it on the biggest screen you can find. A breathtaking and strange spectacle unlike anything else. I will never look at the sky the same way again.

— Nigel Smith (@nigelmfs) July 19, 2022

There is nothing like what you expect. An entertaining puzzle game that is equally confusing and terrifying, and like most films @JordanPeel, offers layers that you are unlikely to be able to remove in one sitting. (CONTINUATION) #NoFilm pic.twitter.com/GwkHzqkynt

— Chris Killian (@chriskillian) July 19, 2022

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