People are scared of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk after seeing Jordan Peele's 'Us'



Check out their reactions to the film, and what it means for their relationship with Santa Cruz, in the following tweets. >>> less This image released by Universal Pictures shows Lupita Nyong'o in a scene from "Us," written, produced and directed by Jordan Peele. The film, based in Santa Cruz, has scared some of the people who have seen it away from the California beach town. This image released by Universal Pictures shows Lupita Nyong'o in a scene from "Us," written, produced and directed by Jordan Peele. The film, based in Santa Cruz, has scared some of the people who have seen it ... more Photo: Claudette Barius Photo: Claudette Barius Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close People are scared of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk after seeing Jordan Peele's 'Us' 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

People who have seen Jordan Peele's new psychological horror film "Us" are saying that they are afraid to go to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, with some swearing off the city altogether.

The film, which was released on Friday, is set in Santa Cruz, with the city's famed boardwalk playing an important role in the plot of the film. Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke, the film's stars, play a married couple, likely Bay Area residents, who are taking their family on vacation in the popular beach town.

"You know I was thinking to myself the other day, I can't wait for summer. I really wanna drive to Santa Cruz," wrote Twitter user @MrfPerdomo. "But thanks to the movie 'Us' I won't be visiting Santa Cruz any time soon."

Another person who saw the film, Twitter user @ariiiicamacho said she's afraid to visit her favorite vacation spot after watching the film. "The movie Us really got me scared to go back to Santa Cruz and that's my [favorite] vacation place," she said.

Twitter user @aye_okayy wrote that they could relate to Nyong'o's Adelaide Wilson, who expressed not wanting to go to Santa Cruz toward the beginning of the film, adding some Bay Area shade in her comments.

"My favorite part of 'Us' was Lupita's character not wanting to go to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk because as a Bay Area native I could 100% relate," she wrote. "That place is dusty as hell."

A student at UC Santa Cruz went as far as joking that they'd drop out of school because of the film. "So, after viewing the film 'Us,' I will not be returning to University of California Santa Cruz. Thanks and have a good night!" wrote @everyavans on Twitter.

One of Peele's former collaborators, writer and actor Brian Firenzi, joked that he thinks Peele set the film in Santa Cruz as payback for this sketch that Firenzi wrote for him for "Key & Peele."

"One time I co-wrote the dumbest sketch @JordanPeele ever had to be in, where he played a blueberry pie, and I think he returned the favor by turning my hometown of Santa Cruz into a bloodbath with 'Us.' Thanks," he wrote.

The film is on its way to a $70 million opening weekend and number one spot at the box office, which is the second-highest debut weekend of the year. It is projected to break box office records for biggest opening weekend for a horror film and biggest opening weekend for a R-rated film.

Check out how moviegoers expressed being scared of Santa Cruz after watching the psychological horror film "Us" in the above slideshow.