10 Films That Helped Blumhouse Take Over Cinema
1. Get Out
Before this year, few people would have believed that the underdog awards season success story of an Oscars ceremony would be a horror movie directed by a sketch show comedian. That was true even when Get Out roared into cinemas in the early part of 2017, winning a box office haul of more than $250m in another of Blumhouse's trademark low-budget, high-profit horror projects.
Get Out is the filmmaking debut of Jordan Peele, one half of a comedy duo with Keegan-Michael Key, and follows a black man who becomes central to a dark conspiracy when he visits his white girlfriend's outwardly liberal parents in a remote country home. It's a searing critique of racism in America, with a particular focus on the insidious, internalised racism of those who "would have voted for Obama a third time" while nursing secret prejudice.
The film became the second Blumhouse feature, after Whiplash, to secure a nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars and Peele was recognised on the shortlist for Best Director, as well as winning the award for Best Original Screenplay. It's the perfect union of the serious side of Blumhouse and the element of their oeuvre that supports innovative genre fare.
Which Blumhouse movie is your favourite? Let us know down in the comments.