Horror movies can be a lot of different things. Some people think they are too gory, terrifying, and violent. But horror movies can also be funny, intelligent, and interesting. They can be a mash up of everything! Sometimes, they have a lot of social commentary. Sometimes, you need to watch the movie twice to pick up on all the details, symbols, and themes.
Get Out is a new, controversial, and interesting horror movie. It explores the topic of racism and class in the suburban areas of the U.S. Jordan Peele, a comedian and actor, wrote and directed the film. He made the film scary but tempered it with humor. Some people say that the film is more suspenseful than horrifying.
Marni loved the film Get Out. Listen as she tells Jordin about it in today’s English lesson.
Marni: Jordin, I just saw a really wonderful movie. It’s called Get Out.
Jordin: Oh.
Marni: Have you heard about it?
Jordin: Yeah. Isn’t that supposed to be super scary?
Marni: Well, it is kind of a mash up of horror and social commentary on racism.
Jordin: Oh.
Marni: But, it’s also tempered with some humor… and it’s just a really great film!
Jordin: But are there like the scares where they, like, have the music go really loud all of a sudden? And it makes you so scared!
Marni: It’s… I would actually argue that it is more suspenseful than scary. It’s got some like really great, classic horror film… I mean, it kind of moves in this direction of like a really great horror film plot. But it’s so smart, and well done, and it’s just really interesting!
Jordin: It sounds good. I just am so nervous about how scary it will be! I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep afterwards.
Marni: Oh, I… Well, okay, I do like horror films, so I am biased. But, I didn’t have that problem. I just… I couldn’t stop thinking about it because there was just… I really want to see it again because I feel like it’s one of those films where you miss a lot. And re-watch it, because you pick up on things. But… I think, I really thought it was one of the best films I’ve seen in a long time. Really good acting.
Jordin: That’s awesome. Maybe you could come see it with me again and hold my hand the whole time?
Marni: I will do that for you.
Marni tells Jordin she saw a really interesting movie called Get Out. Jordin asks if it was really scary or not. Marni says that it is definitely a horror film, but the movie is also a social commentary on racism. It has humor, too. Marni says it’s just a really great film! Jordin asks if it is one of those horror films with really loud and scary music. Marni says it is more suspenseful than scary.
It is kind of like a classic horror film, but really smart, well done, and interesting. Jordin says it sounds good, but she’s nervous about how scary it will be. She’s afraid she won’t be able to sleep after watching it. Marni says she could be biased because she really loves horror films. But she really wants to see it again. Jordin asks if Marni would see it again with her but hold her hand during the film!
What have you heard about Get Out? Do you think horror movies are interesting?
Comparing Quality
Marni is talking about the movie Get Out. She says, “I would actually argue that it is more suspenseful than scary….” She is comparing quality.
There are a couple of different ways to make comparisons of quality. With a one-syllable adjective or a word ending in -y or -ly, add the suffix -er or -ier to form a comparative phrase with than. For example, “This apple is redder than that one,” or, “My bag is heavier than yours.”
With an adjective or adverb of more-than-one syllable, use more or less to create the comparative phrase with than. For example, “This dress is more beautiful than that one,” or, “These flowers are less colorful than those flowers.” For example, Marni creates a comparative phrase with the adjective “suspenseful,” which has more than one syllable, “I would actually argue that it is more suspenseful than scary…”
To show that two things have the same quality, use as…as to compare similar aspects of quality (adjective) or of manner (adverb) of two items. You could say, “My bicycle is as fast as your bicycle,” or, “My dog runs as quickly as Ann’s dog.”
Which is correct, “That dress is more casual than formal,” or, “That dress is casualier than formal”?