The 1993 cult classic Fire in the Sky might spoil the template for Jordan Peele’s third outing as a feature-length director, as the forgotten Robert Patrick sci-fi drama shares similarities with Peele’s upcoming extraterrestrial horror film Nope. Nope is scheduled for a theatrical release on July 22nd, 2022. Based on the details released thus far, it’s clear that the alien abduction subgenre has had some influence on Peele’s usual style of writing and directing.
Fire in the Sky received favorable reviews upon release but that reception eventually dwindled into anonymity. Still, the film has maintained a foothold in the genre thanks to its solid performances and its sober depiction of alien abduction. Extraterrestrial sci-fi films like 2009’s The Fourth Kind have tried and failed to replicate the dread of Fire in the Sky‘s third act. As Nope arrives alongside 2022’s summer of horror, it will aim to outshine the rest by leaping over the standards set by its genre predecessors.
Recent trailers and interviews have made it apparent that Jordan Peele’s Nope may be spoiled by its similarities to Fire in the Sky‘s focus on a small group of rural locals entangled with the extraterrestrial. Both of Peele’s previous feature-length efforts leaned heavily, and rightfully, on their casts of characters and the relationships between them. Nope seems to follow that trend, as a group of Californian ranchers arrives at the center of an otherworldly encounter. Peele has even brought back actors tied to his early success. Fire in the Sky, led by Terminator 2 star Robert Patrick featured a comparable group of laborers and followed their psychological torment after one of their own was taken by alien life. With Keke Palmer visibly pulled into the sky during Nope‘s official trailer, it’s possible that she could be playing the role of the abductee while the remainder is left to deal with the fallout.
The revered abduction scene from Fire in the Sky remains one of sci-fi’s most squirm-inducing sequences even thirty years later. Peele is expected to pursue that same uneasy feeling with his own film, especially after confirming the inspiration behind Nope‘s title. He wants this summer’s release to embody the skin-crawling “nope” moments made popular by the horror genre. Jordan Peele has already demonstrated his dedication to powerful visuals with images like Get Out‘s hypnosis scene and the strikingly red-clad doppelgangers of Us. Peele’s tools could create a new sci-fi horror masterpiece if he applies them to an abduction sequence on par with Fire in the Sky. There are arguably few greater “nope” moments than that within the alien subgenre. Peele seems determined to take the crown for himself.
Get Out and Us weren’t only known for their visuals. Jordan Peele’s feature-length endeavors also inspired conversation and debate, partly by approaching the heavily relevant societal topics of the day. While there aren’t as many immediate observations within Nope‘s otherworldly conflict, there’s still an opportunity for important themes to be prevalent. Fire in the Sky created similar conversations, although they were based on more surface-level commentary. The skepticism and doubt thrust upon the central cast of Fire in the Sky mirrored the scrutiny of the times. As the characters were criticized and even legally targeted by their peers, discussions surrounding the legitimacy of the true story which inspired Fire resonated beyond the screen. Fire in the Sky proved that there’s space for themes of faith, family, and the unjust pursuit of the law within an extraterrestrial horror film. Peele’s past work makes it all the more likely that he’ll discover those same themes within his story.
Jordan Peele’s Nope may be borrowing from yesterday’s sci-fi films, but the movie’s greatest assets will likely stem from 1993’s Fire in the Sky. As anticipation swells for Peele’s next feature-length film, it’s important to assess its place in the medium. Nope is positioned to be the most traditionally “science fiction” of Jordan Peele’s horror entries. On July 22nd it will be decided if Peele has crafted the next forgettable alien flop, or if Nope is worthy of the same long-term support that has kept Fire in the Sky at the heart of the genre.
Key Release Dates
Nope
Release Date:2022-07-22
