ANTEBELLUM is a modern horror thriller playing both with the idea of time and ages and with political issues. Jordan Peele, who gave us both Get Out and Us, produces the film so it should come as no surprise that race and prejudice are at the forefront.

I can't help but think, though, that this film would have been better directed by Jordan Peele himself. This movie's premise and overall storyline are deserving of a definite top star, but the implementation just doesn't fit all that well.

The opening scene is perfect in its brutality

When it comes to Antebellum, if there is one thing I can not blame, it's the opening scene. Almost no words are uttered, but as the camera pans around a slave plantation the score swells. Here we experience absolute evil and multiple kinds of violence.

It wasn't that good at setting the mood because The Invisible Man has an opening scene. Both requesting and receiving its audience's immediate full attention. When both the imagery and the music say so much, no words are needed. The rest of Antebellum can't live up to this opening scene, sadly.

Don’t get me wrong. Plenty of brutal scenes full of realistic and racist horrors continue, but the timing and intensity is never that spot-on again. Some plot reveals are also slow to come which doesn’t help the story along. This is exactly what Jordan Peele tends to do so extremely well; Time the big reveals perfectly!

Janelle Monáe as the main protagonist

Janelle Monáe is the absolute star of a feature film with Antebellum, after having co-starred with Octavia Spencer (Ma) and Taraji P. Henson in Secret Figures (2016). She also appeared as the main protagonist in Homecoming season 2 where she did a fantastic job.

Currently I appear to be very pleased with the performances in movies and TV series by Janelle Monáe. She just didn't fit so well for Antebellum which is a damn shame. If the main character had been presented differently, this movie would have been very different.

Obviously, she isn’t the only actor in Antebellum which has many intriguing characters and solid performances.  Jena Malone (Bottom of the World) is fascinating in a way similar to that of her Hunger Games’ character. She definitely isn’t likable, but you have no doubt where she stands. The same goes for Kiersey Clemons from the Flatliners reboot and Sweetheart, who I wish would have had a much bigger part in Antebellum.

Other key characters are portrayed by actors such as Eric Lange (Escape at Dannemora) and Jack Huston (Mr. Mercedes), who both delivered some impressive and nuanced portrayals. They’re absolute villains of the story but it’s intriguing to watch them be this cruel in very realistic ways.

Don’t miss out on Antebellum

Despite being very disappointed with elements from the Antebellum film, I still believe the premise alone makes it very relevant and interesting. I just hope, in other words, that people will watch this and take it all in.

Antebellum was written and directed jointly by the filmmaker duo Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz. Gerard Bush is a black man, for the record, while Christopher Renz is white. Is this important? Ok, I don't think that two white men making this film would have created the same outcome. So ... Yeah!

In the past the pair made music videos alongside a 2016 documentary. Antebellum is their first feature film and a solid first. But it should have been incredible straight away!

Bottom line; if you liked Get Out and Us, then you certainly need to also check out Antebellum-just be prepared for the fact that in terms of nailing its plot points, this movie is at a different stage.

Antebellum (2020) is out on premium video-on-demand from September 18, 2020.