It has always been a pleasure to watch Jordan Peele’s films and Nope’s trailer is making me look forward to yet another Sci-Fri thriller from the genius. Stevie Wonder’s song Fingers play in the background of all the chaos with the words “Say yeah,” being repeated enthusiastically. A little ironic, given the title of the film.
We’re introduced to the film’s stars, Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya, who own a ranch that is about to have the heck haunted out of it.
Even though the trailer is around two minutes long, what to expect in the film remains a mystery, much like the alien entity that is terrorizing all the characters. Wait, did I say alien? Is this really about an alien invasion?
I’ve done you the courtesy of going through the trailer frame-by-frame and gathered some clues that will better prepare you for Nope this July.
Is NOPE an acronym?
A popular theory surging up is that NOPE is actually an acronym that stands for Not Of Planet Earth.
There are quite a lot of instances that point to the threat being aliens, right from a child fist bumping a bloody webbed hand to a snapshot of alien-looking merchandise being sold:
After which, we’re also shown a hidden figure resembling the plushies above:
While we also see a disfigured woman, I think she’s someone harmed by the “alien,” rather than being one:
At one point, Kaluuya asks, “What do you call a bad miracle?” I might be far off on this theory but what if the ranch folks are aware of the supernatural entity and it has in fact scared away (or even killed) their competition, which is why Kaluuya calls it a “bad” miracle.
(It would also explain why there are too many of those inflatable tube men around, which we know are used to advertise car dealerships).
Another reason I think they know, either through lore or through experience is because they’re selling plushies that very much look like aliens.
But to play the devil’s advocate, there are so many hints about it being aliens that it almost seems like a red herring. Borrowing from a YouTube comment which said it could just be humans from the future, made me more open to expecting threats other than aliens.
So it is possible that nope is an acronym, but in general it’s great advice too — if you see/experience anything out of the ordinary, just say “nope” and get out of there. (In fact, Peele himself has often expressed exasperation at characters in horror movies making dumb moves, so this title is quite on point.)
What are the alien’s power?
Other than having the ability of making everyone look up in fright, the supernatural entity seems to be able to control the atmosphere. Sandstorms and ominous clouds are conjured throughout the trailer, while it is also hinted that the entities can manipulate electricity.
Historical Accuracy and Horses
The little clip that the trailer starts with is indeed the first motion picture ever made. Now in real life, it hasn’t been validated that the clip starred a Black man, but most historic speculations point to it being a big possibility. (A commentary on sidelining Black achievements?)
In the trailer, a fictionalized ancestry has been set up making siblings Palmer and Kaluuya the Black horse rider’s great, great, great, great grandkids. Still, we’re given no names other than the fact that they are Hollywood’s only Black-owned horse trainers, the Haywood ranch.
Horses seem to be a big part of movie, be it to establish location or just for imagery. Or perhaps to show that the supernatural entity is powerful enough to take down more than a dozen horses, which are one of the strongest animals on land.
One theory also suggests that the supernatural entity perhaps feeds or needs on horses. Which is why Steven Yeun’s character is shown unveiling a horse inside a glass box in front of crowd. Is he trying to lure the monsters and put on a show? You never know.
A Crab?!
Most of my thoughts watching the trailer ended with an interrobang, so it is only fitting that I point out the most obvious out of place element I found: the crab. You wouldn’t particularly find a crab walking in what looked like a miniature (doll) house. Even if you did, what significance does it have to the movie?
Besides the crab, as we also see the zoomed-in eye of a reptile but that is at least on brand with all things horror.
Peele’s ardent followers will know that he does not do anything unintentionally. So I’m sure once the movie is released, we’ll sit back, connect the dots and once again, be totally amazed while biting our nails in terror.
About Nope
Nope is an upcoming American horror film written, directed, and produced by Jordan Peele under his company, Monkeypaw Productions.
Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun, the plot follows residents of an isolated town who start witnessing a mysterious and abnormal event.
Much of the movie is currently being kept under wraps. It will release on July 22, 2022
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