Jordan Peele’s Us (2019) is a psychological horror-thriller that blends social commentary with intense suspense and eerie doppelgänger terror. Following the success of Get Out, Peele returned with a film that is both a nightmare and a metaphor — about privilege, identity, and the monsters that look exactly like us.
Detailed Summary
The Prologue: The Girl at the Boardwalk
In 1986, young Adelaide Thomas (Madison Curry) visits a Santa Cruz beach boardwalk with her parents. She wanders into a mirror maze called “Vision Quest,” where she encounters a terrifying doppelgänger of herself — her exact replica. This traumatic moment leaves her mute and deeply scarred.
The Wilson Family Vacation
Years later, adult Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) is now married to Gabe (Winston Duke), and they have two children, Zora and Jason. The family heads to Santa Cruz for a summer vacation. Although the trip is meant to be relaxing, Adelaide becomes increasingly anxious as they approach the beach from her childhood trauma.
At the beach, the family meets their friends, the Tylers (Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker), who are wealthier and more superficial. Jason briefly disappears, causing Adelaide to panic. That night, after returning home, Adelaide confides in Gabe about her childhood encounter — she believes her double might still be out there.
The Night of the Tethered
That night, the power goes out. Jason notices a family standing motionless in their driveway. When Gabe confronts them, it becomes clear they are not ordinary people — they are exact duplicates of the Wilsons, dressed in red jumpsuits, wielding golden scissors, and connected by a mysterious link called “the Tethered.”
The intruders break in. Each Wilson family member faces their terrifying double. Adelaide’s double, “Red,” is the only one who can speak — in a chilling, strained voice, she explains that the Tethered are the abandoned underground counterparts of everyone on the surface. They were created by the government and left behind to live miserable lives in tunnels while their above-ground doubles enjoyed freedom.
The Tethered Attack
Chaos erupts across the city as the Tethered begin their nationwide uprising, brutally murdering their counterparts and forming a massive human chain across America — an eerie mimicry of the real-life “Hands Across America” event from 1986.
The Wilsons barely escape after killing their doubles. They flee to the Tylers’ house, only to find the Tylers have already been slaughtered by their own doppelgängers. Adelaide and her family fight them off in a bloody battle and eventually decide to escape Santa Cruz.
Adelaide’s Descent Underground
In the final act, Adelaide learns that Red has taken Jason. She follows her into the underground tunnels — a nightmarish mirror world where the Tethered live in abandoned hallways, mimicking the actions of their surface counterparts.
Red reveals that she is different from the other Tethered — she remembers life above ground. The two women engage in a brutal fight. Adelaide kills Red and rescues Jason. The Wilson family drives away to safety as helicopters hover above, showing the scope of the devastation.
Movie Ending
As the Wilsons escape, a chilling twist is revealed. Through a flashback, we see that the Adelaide we’ve been following throughout the movie is not the original Adelaide. The real Adelaide — the little girl from the 1986 boardwalk — was abducted and replaced by her doppelgänger, Red. The Tethered girl choked her unconscious, dragged her into the underground tunnels, and took her place above ground.
This means the woman we thought was Adelaide all along is actually Red — the original Tethered who took over her double’s life. She grew up on the surface, had a family, and lived a normal life. Meanwhile, the real Adelaide was forced to live underground as Red, plotting revenge for decades.
As the camera zooms out, we see the Tethered forming a massive human chain across the countryside — a grim reflection of the 1986 “Hands Across America” protest. The film ends with Jason looking at his mother suspiciously, as if realizing the truth about who she really is. Adelaide smiles nervously, leaving the audience with one last question: who are the real monsters — the Tethered or us?
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Us does not have any post-credits scenes. The story concludes with the haunting final shot of the Tethered chain stretching across America, serving as a symbolic and unsettling ending.
Type of Movie
Us is a psychological horror thriller infused with social commentary and symbolism. It explores the duality of human nature, privilege, and identity through a chilling doppelgänger narrative.
Cast
- Lupita Nyong’o as Adelaide Wilson / Red
- Winston Duke as Gabe Wilson / Abraham
- Shahadi Wright Joseph as Zora Wilson / Umbrae
- Evan Alex as Jason Wilson / Pluto
- Elisabeth Moss as Kitty Tyler / Dahlia
- Tim Heidecker as Josh Tyler / Tex
Film Music and Composer
The score, composed by Michael Abels, is a masterclass in tension and unease. His chilling remix of “I Got 5 on It” (the Tethered Mix) became instantly iconic, blending classical orchestration with eerie hip-hop rhythms. The soundtrack adds psychological depth and perfectly mirrors the movie’s duality theme.
Filming Locations
Filming took place mainly in Santa Cruz, California, especially the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, which plays a crucial role in both the prologue and the climax. Other scenes were shot around Pasadena and Los Angeles, creating a stark contrast between sunny family life and dark underground horror.
Awards and Nominations
- Lupita Nyong’o received widespread critical acclaim and numerous Best Actress nominations.
- The film won Best Actress (Nyong’o) and Best Horror Film at the Critics’ Choice Super Awards (2020).
- It received multiple Saturn Award nominations, including Best Director and Best Writing for Jordan Peele.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Jordan Peele said the idea came from his own fear of seeing his double.
- Lupita Nyong’o researched spasmodic dysphonia to craft Red’s haunting voice.
- The child actors played both the Wilson kids and their terrifying doubles, requiring intense physical and emotional range.
- Peele wrote the script in secret while promoting Get Out.
- The film’s “Hands Across America” motif was inspired by real footage Peele remembered from his childhood.
Inspirations and References
- Inspired by the 1980s Hands Across America event.
- Influences include The Twilight Zone, The Shining, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
- The concept of “The Tethered” is partly symbolic of class struggle — the forgotten underclass living in the shadows of the privileged.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
While there are no official alternate endings, early drafts reportedly had a darker tone where the entire Wilson family might have been replaced by their Tethered counterparts. Some deleted scenes focused on Red’s life underground, expanding on the Tethered’s eerie mirror-world society.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Us is an original story and not based on any book. However, its tone and themes are reminiscent of dystopian and psychological horror literature, particularly works by Shirley Jackson and George Orwell.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Adelaide and Red’s first eerie face-to-face encounter in the living room.
- The ballet-fight sequence in the tunnels — a mix of beauty and brutality.
- The family’s desperate escape after the Tylers’ massacre.
- Jason realizing his mother’s true identity.
Iconic Quotes
- Red: “We are Americans.”
- Adelaide: “They look exactly like us.”
- Red: “Once upon a time, there was a girl and the shadow of a girl.”
- Gabe: “If y’all wanna get crazy, we can get crazy!”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The recurring number 11:11 references Jeremiah 11:11 — a biblical verse about inevitable judgment.
- The Tethered’s red jumpsuits and scissors symbolize unity and separation.
- The “Hands Across America” reference foreshadows the Tethered’s final act.
- Many mirrors appear throughout, reflecting the theme of duality.
- The rabbits represent cloning and the Tethered’s diet underground.
Trivia
- Jordan Peele personally selected Lupita Nyong’o for the role after seeing her in 12 Years a Slave.
- The word “Us” doubles as “U.S.” — a metaphor for America itself.
- Each actor learned two sets of movements — graceful and animalistic — to differentiate their two versions.
- The movie was shot in just 23 days.
Why Watch?
Us isn’t just a horror movie — it’s a psychological puzzle layered with symbolism, social critique, and existential dread. If you enjoy films that challenge your mind while keeping you on the edge of your seat, Us is a must-watch.
