Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Nope Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 20, 2022

Filmmaker Jordan Peele explores the frightening and peculiar world of UFOs, as well as human psychology and a number of underlying themes, in Nope, a film which intersects Sci-Fi and Western genres with plenty of other goings-on to sweeten the pot. Peele has once again built a film that is novel and engaging, stable and confident, and well capable of holding audience attention through its surge of strange material. The film has a few flaws, but it is nevertheless a refreshing experience for its unique vision and careful assembly, for its original characters and refined story, and for its layered drama and sophisticated storytelling, all hallmarks of Peele's other films, Get Out and Us.

Strange things are afoot at the Haywood Ranch. OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Em (Keke Palmer) are doing everything they can to keep the place afloat after their father's (Keith David) death, but financial strains are pressuring the sale to nearby showman and ex-TV child star Jupe Park (Steven Yeun) who is capitalizing on his survival of a sitcom stunt gone horribly wrong. However, things are complicated when a UFO begins abducting horses from the ranch. With the help of a local Fry's Electronics employee, Angel (Brandon Perea), the Haywoods install security cameras hoping to capitalize on the visitor's presence and begin to piece together the truth of what it is that's lingering in the skies above.

Jordan Peele is arguably the hottest filmmaker going right now. He’s picked up the reigns that M. Night Shyamalan lost in the years following Signs, and he has slid into that role of high vision, structurally leveled, and narratively driven filmmaker quite nicely. Nope is very much in the style of classic Shyamalan with a sprinkling of Spielberg, crafting a film of visual stability yet great wonder, of narrative excitement but character-driven storytelling. That puts Peele in some elite company, and rightly so, for his uncanny blend of spectacle and structure. Nope balances large narrative engagement with intimate scale and personal humanity. The film never pushes too far into the mystery or holds back too much of it. It is a film of remarkable balance and tonal clarity even when it's pushing its own borders and general cinema boundaries. Peele maintains engagement even as the film slowly builds, even as weird tentacles gradually emerge but eventually circle back to the larger picture. This is not a straightforward film, but audiences will be well rewarded by patiently waiting for Peele to build a slow-burn story that is both immediately gratifying and dramatically long lasting.

Nope offers seamless special effects throughout its canvas that support rather than carry the story. Peele uses the sky as a canvas onto and into which he projects his themes as the air and the earth collide in remarkable ways. He paints with a brush that offers the broad strokes above and the subtle, yet still obvious and wells spoken, commentaries below. The film is littered with worthwhile subtexts, some of which are obvious on a first watch, others of which demand a more careful dissection on repeat viewings. Peele's cast is terrific; Daniel Kaluuya is particularly great as OJ, a character who offers an incredibly expressive performance that is naturally grounded yet internally chaotic, expressed in a spectacularly reserved performance that plays both in balance with and in contrast to the mounting mystery and spectacle around him.

Nope Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Universal brings Nope to Blu-ray with an all-around excellent 1080p transfer. The picture is clear and well detailed. Viewers will be able to soak up every Western terrain around the ranch in every sunlit exterior: horses, dirt, even distant terrain is well rendered. Facial close-ups are wonderful, boasting first-class textural elegance that pushes Blu-ray to the max. Pores, hairs, and other characteristics are presented as well as possible at 1080p. The picture is as clear and clean as any on the format; the natural definition and filmic qualities are present and accounted for in every shot. Colors are bold with supreme vibrance and brilliance as applicable, while dusty, earthy tones are stellar in realism and precision. Black levels and low light shadows hold deep, vital during some of the power outage interiors and nighttime exteriors. Skin tones are healthy, and whites are crisp and accurate. Noise is minimal, and there are no serious encode or source flaws of note. This is a first-class presentation from Universal, just as expected of a big budget new release.

Nope Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio is a critical component to the total Nope experience and Universal's Dolby Atmos soundtrack does not disappoint. The track is in full command of the film's most potent and most subtle elements alike. There's a constant sense of absolute and seamless sonic immersion into the film's locations, whether serene open landscapes or chaotic "UFO" interiors with sound that replicates the suffocating, enclosed, and terrifying atmosphere. The track dynamically engages surround back and overhead channels to fully sell the illusion, and these are used more seamlessly than discretely. Musical engagement is wide and surrounding with perfect balance and faultless clarity. The subwoofer dominates as necessary and steps out of the way when not needed. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and center positioned for the duration.

Nope Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Nope includes several extras. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with a slipcover. Finally, I don't normally mention disc artwork, but I loved how Universal incorporated the hole in the center of the disc into the film's title. A nice little touch.

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 9:25 total runtime): Included are The Hiker, Mallory, The Offer, Terry Attack, and Be Careful.
• Gag Reel (480i, 5:29): 480i? Really? Yes.
• Shadows: The Making of Nope (1080p, 56:05): A comprehensive, film-quality piece that explores Peele's workmanship and process, story and themes, cinematography, shooting locales, cast and performances, horses, spectacle in the film and in life, and much more.
• Call Him Jean Jacket (480i, 14:22): Another supplement in 480i. This piece explores film origins and concepts, the role of the sky and the UFO in the film, subverting tropes, Jean Jacket design, audio elements, score, the sky, and more.
• Mystery Man of Muybridge (480i, 5:30): Exploring the old film clip that is key to the film in 480i.

Nope Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Nope commands attention and it commands respect. The film is, superficially, a curious mash-up that doesn't always work, but in Peele's keen eye for understated and naturally occurring spectacle and drama, the film plays remarkably well. It doesn't always hit on all cylinders, but it teeters on masterpiece. Universal's Blu-ray is a delight, offering expert video and audio qualities in addition to a nice little assortment of supplements. Highly recommended.