“Get Out,” “Nope” and “Us.” All movies directed by the world-renowned filmmaker Jordan Peele. But what about “Him”?
Across the internet, audiences have debated Peele’s involvement in this new horror-sports hybrid, and for good reason. Promotional advertisements place Peele’s name front and center, leading many to believe “Him” is his next film. In reality, though, Peele only serves as the producer while the film is directed by Justin Tipping, a name that’s easily overlooked as it’s hidden at the bottom of the posters. This marketing strategy has sparked recent controversy, as audiences feel they have been misled.
Despite the confusion, “Him” became one of the most anticipated films of 2025 as the NFL football season kicked off. The story follows a rising college football quarterback, Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers), who is recruited by his childhood idol, the legendary championship-winning quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). As Cade begins his intense training, what he thought would be a dream opportunity ends up becoming his worst nightmare.
What makes “Him” different from other horror films is its bold fusion of two distinct genres: horror and sports. It’s unusual to see a film that can capture the inspiration and perseverance of a football story with a psychological horror aspect, but “Him” does exactly that.
Having seen many horror films before, we had our own speculations about the movie before stepping into the theater. Based on the trailers, we anticipated the story would focus on White’s manipulation of Cade as his idol’s reputation clouds Cade’s judgment. It also seemed that there would be a heavy focus on psychological horror rather than gore, probably with a big plot twist towards the end. However, this was the director’s first horror film, so we weren’t quite sure what to expect from “Him”.
After sitting through the 96-minute feature, we stood up feeling mildly unsatisfied. Both of us agreed that the film was visually stunning, with excellent editing and cinematography. There were several factors that enhanced the overall viewing experience, including the sound design and visual effects, which made the film stand out on a technical level. Additionally, we thought the acting was strong, with Withers and Wayans delivering great performances.
That said, the story was lacking from the beginning and fell way off the rails by the end with a predictable plot twist. Poor pacing and subpar writing made it feel like an elongated version of the trailer, revealing nothing beyond the film’s basic premise. For these reasons, we gave “Him” three out of five points on our scoreboard.
Returning to what we liked about “Him,” its difficult themes, especially the critique of football fan culture and its cult-like nature, were what stood out. Tipping revealed how obsession can turn dangerous, as when a fan broke into White’s home and tried to kill Cade to prevent him from replacing her favorite quarterback. This intense scene underscored how loyalty can quickly twist into disturbing, cult-like behavior.
Another issue in the film is racial exploitation in professional sports. In the final scene, Cade is pressured by five wealthy white men to sign a contract to become the next “Him” through a mysterious ritual. As a mixed-race athlete, his situation reflects how powerful white figures profit from and control the careers of players from marginalized communities.
The last theme we noticed was the pressure parents place on their children in sports. Early on, Cade’s father pushes football on him, making him watch games, join teams and dream of greatness. By the end, it’s revealed that the five men urging Cade to sign the contract had actually been grooming him since childhood, ensuring he followed their desired path. Though extreme, this highlights the real issue of kids being forced into sports by their parents.
Now, recent articles have pushed the clickbait even further, dragging Peele’s name down along with “Him,” as if he were the director. With a 58% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film clearly underperformed, reflecting our own impressions. Many viewers who aren’t film fanatics like us also expected “Him” to be a Jordan Peele movie, so when they didn’t receive one, they were left feeling disappointed. To reiterate, “HIM” is not a Jordan Peele film, and as such, has not met Jordan Peele status.