SXSW 2021 Film Festival: THEM Review
The new Amazon Prime Series THEM knocks it out the park as an undiscovered gem that shines brightly compared to US (2019 Jordan Peele Film). To my knowledge, with no relation to the 2019 film, THEM creator Little Marvin has allowed his gift to make room for him so that America and beyond may experience the masterpiece of horror filmmaking in the year 2021. Premiering on Friday, April 9th, you need to run and don’t walk to your nearest device or tv screen to view the new anthology series; also Executive Produced by Lena Waithe, as it uniquely explores American terror.
Set in the 1950s, the first season of THEM centers on a Black family who moves from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighborhood during the period known as The Great Migration. The family’s idyllic home becomes ground zero where malevolent forces, next-door and otherworldly, threaten to taunt, ravage and destroy them.
Jada Pinkett Smith spoke with the cast starring Deborah Ayorinde (Livia “Lucky” Emory), Ashley Thomas (Henry Emory), Alison Pill (Betty Wendell), Shahadi Wright Joseph (Ruby Lee Emory), Melody Hurd (Gracie Jean Emory), and Ryan Kwanten for #SXSW to discuss the magnitude of this project. It was an enlightening occasion to learn that Little Marvin wrote this script three summers ago while watching the unrest in America faced by Black men and women’s senseless killings.
Little Marvin geeked over the astonishment that Jada was interviewing him and the cast for his first-ever film as a writer, director, and executive producer. Some may consider him a brand new fish in the water, but after watching the first episode, Little Marvin knows how to swim with his pen and vision.
Homeownership in America is the central theme for this series. As a faithful witness, I can testify as a Black woman, many people of color have faced discrimination when purchasing a home. If a lender does not deny you, then you’re faced with racism during home shopping visits. With the familiar statement of homeownership being considered the American dream, everyone agrees at times; it can be a nightmare.
Many of the actors stood out with significant roles, and Deborah Ayorinde (Livia “Lucky” Emory) is a breath of fresh air as she transcends the stereotype that all Black women are the same. “I wanted people to see a layered Black woman. Don’t put us in a box,” Deborah explains her motive for working with this film.
Nine-year-old Melody Hurd (Gracie Jean Emory) is given the title innocent and ferocious by her costar Alison Pill who portrays Betty Wendell as a terrifying modern-day “Karen,” in America as Jada calls it from the reaction in her scenes. Alison began to break down in tears as she described the pure joy of working on set with a diverse crew of actors. Typically Alison’s world is filled with all-white film sets, and it was beautiful for her to witness the cast getting their hair and makeup done together in a trailer by a crew sharing a common goal.
Little Marvin explained that all of the writers led with, “Houses aren’t haunted, families are. The Emorys came to Compton haunted.” The work of sheer horror you feel watching THEM unfolds magically like silk. I love a script that can capture my essence as a human being while offering a historical context in an original format. I jumped out of my skin during Gracie Jean’s encounter with Ms. Vera. It was fantastic!
Overall, this is an excellent series that many people will use as discussion boards and think pieces on social media and more. Bravo to the cast and crew of THEM for this brilliant work of art. I look forward to seeing what comes next.
Fun Facts:
Jada Pinkett Smith and Deborah Ayorinde worked together as castmates on the 2017 GIRLS TRIP film
Shahadi Wright Joseph played Zora Wilson in the 2019 Jordan Peele thriller US.
Follow Them:
Twitter + Instagram: @ThemOnPrime
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThemOnPrime
Hashtag: #THEM
