Antebellum

Echoing Jordan Peele's mind-benders Get Out and Us, this gorgeous-looking horror thriller similarly explores contemporary black experience. Janelle Monáe plays dual roles as a Civil War slave and a present-day activist writer - the former ekes out a brutal existence under the boot of Jack Huston's sadistic overseer, while the latter is mysteriously drawn to the past while on a book tour. The conundrum is intriguing and Monáe convinces in her two roles, while Gabourey Sidibe is excellent as her vivacious, no-nonsense bestie. The one-dimensional supporting characters tend to undermine the social commentary underlying the narrative, but this is an appealing debut from directors Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz.