Director Jordan Peele has commented on the fact that one of the characters in his latest movie, Us, wears a Michael Jackson T-shirt – saying the situation is a “perfect symbol” of his horror film’s message.
Us, which is out this month, was filmed before the release of the documentary Leaving Neverland, in which Wade Robson and James Safechuck share detailed accusations of child sexual abuse against Jackson.
Peele told NME he did not know that the documentary was coming out when he was leaving on US, but acknowledged Jackson’s “duality”.
He then explained how having a character wearing a Jackson T-shirt echoes the psychological horror thriller’s reflection on people’s “darker side”.
“I think it addresses this idea of the shadow self and when we talk about the collective shadow self, which is what this film is about, it involves an ability for us to ignore the truth and the darker side of ourselves,” Peele said.
“That’s a perfect symbol for what this movie is.”
Us is being released in the UK this Friday, 15 March, and will hit theatres in the US on 22 March.
The film, which stars Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Elisabeth Moss, follows up on Peele’s acclaimed directorial debut Get Out, released in 2017.
