him movie review – Jordan Peele produced a football horror movie but is disappointing
Him Movie Review: Jordan Peele’s Football Horror Drama Fumbles More Than It Scores
Jordan Peele has built a reputation for turning familiar American settings into stages for unsettling social commentary. With Him, produced under his Monkeypaw Productions banner, he sets his sights on the world of professional football — but this time, the playbook doesn’t quite connect.
Directed by Justin Tipping, Him follows Cameron Cade, a gifted quarterback whose promising career is derailed after a violent attack by an obsessed fan. Just when his future seems over, his idol, Isaiah White, a retired football star, steps in to mentor him at a secluded desert compound. What begins as a comeback story quickly spirals into a psychological nightmare, as Isaiah’s charm morphs into something far more sinister.
The Game Plan Falls Apart
From the opening sequence — where Isaiah snaps his leg during a championship drive — the film wastes no time showing football’s brutal underbelly.
Young Cameron watches in shock, while his father reinforces the harsh mantra, “no guts, no glory.” It’s a moment that sets the tone for a story about pain, pressure, and the toll of chasing perfection.
Visually, Him is striking.
Tipping occasionally switches to X-ray-style shots to emphasize the damage hidden beneath every tackle, a clever touch that brings a jarring realism to the field. Yet, for all its stylistic flourishes, the movie falters when it comes to credibility.
Anyone who understands American football will find it hard to believe a top quarterback prospect would endure the same punishing drills as average players. The realism breaks further when Marlon Wayans, playing Isaiah at 53, is presented as a still-dominant pro athlete — an age at which most players have long hung up their helmets.
A Stylish Film That Can’t Find Its Voice
There’s a sleekness to Him that suggests something deeper beneath the surface — a commentary on hero worship, faith, and identity. But the story never fully finds its footing. Instead of building tension, it drifts between symbolism and spectacle, struggling to decide whether it’s a sports drama, a horror film, or a moral fable.
The religious undertones, for instance, hit heavy. Isaiah’s team, called The Saviors, worships the game almost literally. His line, “He died for us, so I play for Him,” toes the line between satire and sermon. What could have been sharp commentary on the blending of faith and fandom becomes muddled, even alienating.
One particularly provocative moment — a photo shoot that mimics The Last Supper, with Cameron seated in the place of Jesus — reportedly drove some viewers to walk out during early screenings.
What Works — and What Doesn’t
There’s ambition in Him, and that’s undeniable. It wants to challenge the way America glorifies football while ignoring its darker truths: exploitation, blind devotion, and the myth of the “chosen one.” But the execution never matches the intent.
Tipping and his co-writers — Skip Bronkie and Zachary Akers — seem torn between telling a grounded sports story and crafting a surreal morality tale. As a result, Him lands somewhere in the middle, with moments of brilliance buried under uneven pacing and tonal confusion.
Still, Peele’s influence is felt throughout. The film’s atmosphere is thick with unease, and its imagery often lingers long after the credits roll. But unlike Get Out or Us, which balanced tension with sharp storytelling, Him lacks that same clarity of vision.
YOUR REVIEWER TAKES ON HIM
Final Take
In the end, Him is a film that wants to provoke — and occasionally does — but it never quite delivers on its own promise. It’s bold, visually inventive, and thematically daring, yet too inconsistent to fully land the message it’s reaching for.
As a horror-sports hybrid, it’s more fascinating than satisfying — a film that raises interesting questions about worship, sacrifice, and identity, but leaves its audience unsure of what game it’s actually playing.
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Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2 out of 5)
Genre: Horror / Sports Drama
Director: Justin Tipping
Producers: Jordan Peele, Ian Cooper, Win Rosenfeld, Jamal M. Watson, David Kern
Release Date: September 19, 2025 (USA)
Production Company: Monkeypaw Productions
Source: The Guardian
Editor’s Note: This review was updated on October 7, 2025, to reflect new viewer reactions and box office updates.
