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The Synopsis:

The movie starts with a couple, Slim (Daniel Kaluuya) and Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith), sitting at a diner having a meal. You soon find out that they are on their first date, and they are not having the best time with each other. They leave the diner and head home. On the way they are stopped by a police officer.

He is very intrusive and finds a reason to want to arrest Slim. Queen gets out of the car and says she is going to film the arrest because it’s her right, but the police officer immediately pulls his gun out and shoots her. Slim tries to tackle the police officer to prevent him from shooting him as well, but ends up shooting and killing the police officer.

They both decide to run away to New Orleans to see Queen’s uncle. When they get there they change their appearance, they take money and borrow a car. This begins their journey to escape the police. During their travel, they find ways to cope with their situation and relieve their stress. They attempt to feel normal.

The video of their encounter with the police is aired on the news and word spreads fast. While they are still on the run, there are riots happening in the streets and we see a teenager they spent time with shoot down a police officer. The teenager is killed for his actions.

They finally reach a friend’s house, the Shepherds (Flea and Chloe Sevigny), who offer to lend them a plane to help them escape. While they’re having dinner, the police ambush them in their house. Fortunately, they are not caught since they are offered a hiding place under their friend’s bedroom floor.

Once they believe the coast is clear, they attempt to jump out the window and enter the garage. They are unaware that the police are still parked outside the house, but attempt to jump start the car. A police officer confronts them but lets them go.

They finally meet a man who says he can lead them to someone who has a plane. They are told that they can use the plane to leave the United States. Unfortunately, once they get there, they are surrounded by the police. Before they surrender, they confess their love for each other. Unexpectedly, Queen gets shot by a police officer and dies instantly. Slim picks her up and walks towards the police. He gets shot and killed. News of their deaths spread like wildfire, but the story is twisted.

The cops spun the story to portray the couple as armed and dangerous, when in fact, they were not. They were revered as martyrs for what they had been through, and what they stood for, equality. This was their legacy.

My Review:

When starting the movie, I was anticipating a car chase and a thrilling storyline. The murder was sudden and shocking.

Following the first half hour of the movie, the story began to slow down. There was quite a bit of monologue. Not that they weren’t interesting! The conversations being had were meaningful and gave lots of context to the backgrounds of the main characters, and insight into the views of the people they met briefly.

There were quite a few shocking parts in the movie that emphasized the message the movie was intended to have. One of these moments was when the boy they met during one of their stops showed his gun and shot a police officer in the face at a riot. The saddest part being that the teenager himself was shot down almost immediately.

The movie does a good job highlighting police brutality and gun violence in the United States, especially towards people of colour. It is unbelievable that racial profiling is still happening and that people suffer from it daily.

This movie was a great depiction of the struggles people face, and how people can come together for a cause. Violence is never okay, but resilience and strength to stand up for what’s right is the backbone in making change.

Although it was an easy watch, I would have preferred more depth in the flow of the story, and less prolonged idle scenes. Overall, the movie portrayed the issues in a believable and realistic way. They did not overdo the events and characters by making it an unrealistic action-packed adventure. Queen and Slim were relatable, meaning they were regular people that we encounter and have as friends. If people are interested in a movie about human rights and the justice system, then this movie is a must-watch!

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