Warning! Contains SPOILERS for Nope.
In Jordan Peele’s latest thriller Nope, the alien that terrorizes Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer appears to kill some people but not others. Known for movies in the horror genre, Jordan Peele has taken the themes he established in Get Out and Us and set his sights on a B-side science fiction film that puts animals on a pedestal. Peele creates a world in Nope that peeks into how humans strive to monetize spectacles and the dangerous outcomes that result from treating animals and other beings as entertainment.
Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer play siblings OJ and Em Haywood in Nope, who inherit their father’s ranch after a freak accident ends his life. OJ is well versed in raising horses and making them available to film and television studios to use in their productions. He is skilled, patient, and understands how to treat the animals on the ranch. OJ also knows his place among the horses, keenly aware that if someone looks certain animals in the eye, they may react with authority and aggression.
At the heart of Nope’s biggest mysteries is OJ and Em’s quest to capture a picture or video of the unidentified flying object. Throughout much of the film, this action becomes a focal point of the plot as it accelerates the mystery when they are unable to provide evidence of what they are seeing in the skies. However, when it’s discovered that the UFO in question is, in fact, an alien itself, the rules seem to change in an instant. After the alien devours an entire audience at Jupiter’s Claim, OJ discovers that if he doesn’t make direct eye contact with the alien, he can survive its advances and keep those around him safe from harm.
Why Nope’s Alien Targets People Who Make Eye Contact
The alien in Nope is similar to many animal species that don’t favor eye contact due to it being a perceived threat. OJ explains during the film that with the horses he and his dad trained on the Haywood Hollywood Horses ranch, it’s good practice not to look directly into a horse’s eye as they take it to mean you are challenging them and attempting to establish dominance. Instead, OJ looks down at the ground or to the side, making the horse feel comfortable enough to trust OJ’s actions.
Jordan Peele’s version of the alien is a vision to behold, with thrusting fragments and a stealth-like ability to glide about in plain sight. When someone does see the alien flying around the clouds, it is difficult for them not to stare at the spectacle. It’s apparent by Nope’s ending that those who make eye contact with the alien end up getting eaten, but OJ accomplishes the ultimate goal of remaining alive using distraction and ingenuity. Even when he is trapped in his truck and the alien does everything possible to get his attention, OJ perseveres by looking away. While it’s clear that OJ and Em cannot tame the predator in Nope, they survive using tactics they employ on the horses they’ve raised their whole lives.
