Jordan Peele’s latest horror film, Nope, is now available for digital rental on platforms like Amazon Prime and Vudu. Known for blending terror with social commentary, Peele reunites with Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya in a story that mixes UFO sightings, Hollywood ambitions, and unexpected horror. The film also stars Keke Palmer, who plays Kaluuya’s character’s sister.
In Nope, OJ and Em Haywood inherit their father’s California ranch after he dies in a bizarre accident caused by an object falling from the sky. While trying to sustain the family business of raising and training horses for Hollywood productions, the siblings encounter unexplained phenomena that threaten their livelihood and lives.
Flashbacks, Family Struggles, and OJ’s First Encounters with the Mysterious UFO
The film opens with a flashback to 1998 on the set of a fictional sitcom, Gordy’s Home, where a chimpanzee kills a cast member, traumatizing the child actor Ricky “Jupe” Park. In the present, OJ focuses on caring for the horses while Em pursues fame in Hollywood. Her storytelling about the Haywoods’ connection to historical photography highlights her desire for recognition.
Keke Palmer as Emerald Haywood (Nope/Universal Pictures)OJ is fired from a commercial when the crew ignores his advice about horse behavior, leading to financial strain. He sells a horse to Jupe, who now runs a Western-themed amusement park. That night, OJ spots a UFO, suspecting it caused his father’s death. The siblings set out to capture footage of the UFO, installing cameras and attempting clever strategies, though initial attempts fail.
Jupe’s Exploitation and OJ’s Strategy Against a Terrifying, Unstoppable Alien Predator
Jupe has also been observing the UFO, using horses to lure it for profit. However, when he attempts to showcase the creature, the UFO is revealed to be a massive alien predator, not a spaceship, and it devours him and the audience. OJ realizes the creature is a territorial predator and races to protect his sister and Angel, a friend helping them document the phenomenon.
Determined to document the creature, OJ, Em, and Angel enlist the cinematographer Antlers, using a combination of electricity-powered sky dancers and a crank camera immune to the monster’s interference. OJ’s knowledge of animal behavior allows them to lure the creature into position safely, initially capturing impressive footage.
Despite their success, Antlers’ obsession with the perfect shot leads to his death and the loss of the footage. Em uses a giant inflatable balloon to distract the monster, luring it into a wishing well and snapping multiple photos, ultimately killing the creature. OJ and Em survive, having captured proof of the monster while avoiding fatal mistakes.
Nope explores humanity’s attempt to exploit nature and wild animals for profit, particularly in Hollywood. Jupe’s trauma-driven ambition and Antlers’ obsession contrast with OJ’s careful, respectful approach to animals. The chimpanzee from the opening scene serves as a metaphor for the dangers of ignoring nature’s power, a lesson mirrored in the film’s alien predator.
