Trailer for “Them” Horror Anthology Released, Drawing Comparisons to Jordan Peele’s “Us”

The trailer for the Amazon original television show “Them” was released on March 22nd, 2021, exciting horror fans and worrying Jordan Peele fans who believe his work more likely inspired the show. The show, being created by producers and writers Lena Waithe and Little Marvin, acts as an anthology series. Each season tells a different story, melding horror with social commentary.

Unfortunately for Waithe and Marvin, many assumed the show was a complete rip-off of Peele’s two critically acclaimed horror flicks, “Get Out,” and especially “Us.”  This coming season “centers around a Black family who move from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighborhood during the period known as The Great Migration.”  

Like “Get Out,” “Them” seems to be tackling the horrors of White America, and like “Us,” the show seems to emphasize the theme of comparing “haves” and “have-nots,” but the most glaring similarity (at least between “Us” and “Them”) is the simple use of a pronoun for the title. Beyond that, there some wild coincidences that seem too good to be true. Shahadi Wright Joseph, who played Zora Wilson and Umbrae in “Us,” will also star in “Them.” The newly released trailer was uploaded onto YouTube on the two-year anniversary of the release date of “Us.”

Regardless of whether or not Waithe and Marvin are copying Peele, she still has a good track record in writing and producing quality movies and television. She had won an Independent Spirit Award for producing the movie “Dear White People” and an Emmy Award for writing an episode of “Master of None.” She also created the critically acclaimed shows “The Chi” and “Twenties.” Meanwhile, Marvin has seen moderate success as one of the forces behind Odd Man Out, the production company responsible for the creation of “Them.” He is also set to create a biopic based on the life of singer Teddy Pendergrass.

The trailer also points to the cast members being exceptionally talented. Wright Joesph, as mentioned earlier, who is playing Ruby Emory, already has experience in the horror genre and will undoubtedly continue to be a fixture in the acting community for years to come. Elsewhere in the cast is Ashley Thomas, better known as Bashy, a British grime artist. Deborah Ayorinde, known for her roles in “Girls Trip,” “Harriet,” and “Luke Cage,” and Melody Hurd, who is set to appear in the upcoming Kevin Hart movie “Fatherhood,” are also set to appear.

“Them” will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video on April 9th, 2021.