What is the meaning of the deer in the Get Out movie?

There is a whole dynamic and parallel in Get Out between the deer, Chris and Chris’ mom etc. Get out was written so brilliantly that there are multiple layers to each metaphor

In the first act, while Chris is on his way to the Armitages’ house, they hit a deer.

The animal was bleeding greatly and died which greatly startled Chris. In fact, he was the only one worried about it whilst Rose didn’t bother. Later on, Rose’s father goes on a rant where he says that all deers should die. To the audience. this seems confusing and weird but if you consider an old term it explains everything.

The First Metaphor is about African-American Individuals:

The word “buck” is what you call a male deer, but it’s a reference to a racial slur from post-Reconstruction America that referred to black men who were seen as violent and rude.

This gives great irony in the scene where the car hits the deer. Chris worrying about it foreshadows what will happen and the fact that the Rose was not worried shows that she was part of the family conspiracy and therefore was not startled.

The word “buck” also explains why Rose’s father said that he “hated deer.” This was clearly a racist comment hidden in the dialogue.

Additionally, the deer that hung above Chris’ head looks like a hunted trophy which shows how the family sees the black people they kidnapped, merely as trophies. However, the fact that it hung above him could also symbolise white dominance.

It is very ironic that Dean was killed by this buck. The very thing which represented his hate for African Americans was the object that killed him.

There is also a second and more personal metaphor of the Deer which is about Chris’ mom:

We learn in the story that Chris’ mom was killed in a hit and run and left on the road to die while Chris did nothing and only watched TV at home. Chris’ fear and concern for the deer directly represents his guilt for his mother’s death.

The scene where the deer hangs above Chris’ head as he is watching the TV (with the explanation of the surgery) is very ironic. As a kid, Chris did no actions to save his mom and instead watched TV much like the other scene except he chose to act and save himself rather and do nothing like his 11 year old self. Additionally, the weapon that killed the antagonist was the object that symbolized his guilt for the death of his mother. Unfortunately, Chris couldn’t save his mom but he did save himself