What Made That Hypnosis Scene in <i>Get Out</i> So Terrifying

Over the next month, The Atlantic’s “And, Scene” series will delve into some of the most interesting films of the year by examining a single, noteworthy moment and unpacking what it says about 2017. First up is Jordan Peele’s Get Out. (Read our previous entries here.)

Thirty minutes into the horror film, Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) senses something malevolent is afoot as he sits down to talk about his smoking problem with his girlfriend’s mom, Missy Armitage (Catherine Keener). A first-time guest at the Armitages’ home, Chris had