Entertainment

How ‘Us’ director Jordan Peele honed his horror chops on ‘Key & Peele’

Jordan Peele cements his status as a horror auteur with the release of his second film, “Us,” on Friday.

One of its stars, Winston Duke, has said, “After this movie, the word ‘Jordan Peele-ian’ is going to enter the film lexicon, and I stand by that.” But the director was developing his style long before his Oscar-winning 2017 movie “Get Out” — on the Comedy Central sketch comedy show “Key & Peele.”

Here are 10 skits from the show’s five seasons that showcase Peele honing his horror chops.

White zombies

Two survivors of a walking-dead apocalypse wonder why nobody’s eating them.

Breakfast of goofballs

A nod to “The Shining” concludes this hotel-based sketch.

Nightmare roomie

A sit-down between bros is haunted by an apparition a la “The Ring.”

New blood





A newly initiated bloodsucker questions why vamps are so goth.

Tiny terror

Peele does an unsettling Forest Whitaker impression.

The bad seed

A dying child creeps out his doctor.

Clowns are horrifying

The “Saw” series as experienced by extreme optimists.

Sequels are scary

A roomful of screenwriters brainstorm for this cheesy 1990 movie.

Oh, the horror

The walk home after a scary movie screening is fraught.

Fright flick faux pas

Two friends — and wannabe filmmakers, clearly — yell at the screen.





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