I watched Get Out last week; it was my second time. I thought that since I knew the twist, it wouldn’t be as magical, but this time around was more enjoyable than the first. If anything, knowing the plot beforehand made early scenes more meaningful and impactful. When it finished, I realised I was engrossed the whole way through.

The movie the second time wasn’t the same as the first. Well, technically it was, but since I received it differently, it felt different. It is a mistake, I think, to assume you know a piece of art just because you’ve encountered it once. Our attention spans are too limited to fully grasp everything. Thus, rewatching, revisiting, and rereading great works is one of our greatest tools to true understanding.

C.S. Lewis once wrote:
“To me, re-reading my favourite books is like spending time with my best friends. I’d never be satisfied to limit myself to just one experience each with my favourite people.”