Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions has made a name for itself by reframing horror through bold new lenses, and Him, directed by Justin Tipping, continues that tradition by dragging the culture of professional football into the uncanny. What emerges is a spectacle of craft and concept, a film as fascinating as it is frustrating.
A Biblical Audio-Video Sermon
If nothing else, Him is breathtaking to look at. The production design of Isaiah’s compound, inspired by brutalist architecture and infused with alchemic symbolism, creates an atmosphere that feels at once futuristic, oppressive, and godlike. It is a temple, a prison, and a shrine to the mythology of sports all at once. Cinematographer Kira Kelly shoots football with balletic grace, turning collisions and concussions into operatic horror. Costume and makeup work furthers this sense of spectacle, each detail reflecting the collision between sports pageantry and personal torment.
The sound design deserves its own standing ovation. Instead of relying on cheap jump-scare spikes, Him leans into silence and restraint. The mix knows the terrifying weight of a pause, of a breath, of sound tightening like a slow dial before letting reality slip. It is chilling and immersive, one of the film’s finest accomplishments.
Withers Impresses, but Wayans is HIM
Tyriq Withers, as the ambitious young quarterback Cam, delivers a strong turn. He starts as a wide-eyed and deferential mentee, but when his character is pushed to the breaking point, he finds a deeper well of desperation and intensity. His evolution feels authentic and necessary, the performance of a man realizing what is asked of him in order to matter.
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But the film belongs to Marlon Wayans. This is a career-defining performance. His Isaiah is elastic in both physicality and emotion, shrinking into fragility one moment and exploding into godlike menace the next. Wayans plays subtle, then goes larger than life, then pulls it all back in a blink, leaving you rattled and mesmerized. It is the kind of performance that makes you realize how little we have demanded of him in the past, and how much he is truly capable of delivering.
The Congregation Didn’t Quite Harmonize for This Him
The ambition of Him cannot be denied. It is a cocktail of body horror, psychological thriller, occult allegory, sports critique, and theater of the unsettling. In parts, it is electrifying. The body horror sequences are sickeningly effective. The religious and occult undertones add depth. The critique of athletes as commodities is razor sharp.
But instead of blending seamlessly, these elements collide. Each strand is fascinating on its own, yet the whole never quite coheres. The film feels less than the sum of its parts, giving you glimpses of greatness without tying them together into a satisfying whole.
The Allure of the Season
However, as a kickoff to spooky season, Him thrives in its own haunted lane. There is a unique, ritualistic air to the film, tapping into the eerie spirituality of competition, sacrifice, and celebrity worship. Plus, the NFL is in full swing, so all things are aligning.
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It even features one of my personal favorite motifs in horror. I won’t get into specifics as facts can get you fired now. But you can find moments spiritually akin in what Sinners and Lovecraft Country have conjured. For that alone, it left me grinning despite its flaws.
A Strange Kind of Triumph
Still, Him is impossible to ignore. It is unique, bold, and visually staggering. Its flaws come not from laziness, but from ambition that stretches just a little too wide. As a kickoff to spooky season, it works beautifully. For those willing to engage with it as an art piece rather than a traditional horror experience, it offers plenty to chew on. For me, that lands at a
6/10
But a 6 that I will keep thinking about long after the credits rolled. Him releases in theaters September 19, 2025.
About Him
Director: Justin Tipping
Screenplay by: Zack Akers & Skip Bronkie and Justin Tipping
Producers: Ian Cooper, Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Jamal M. Watson
Executive Producers: David Kern, Kate Oh
Genre: Horror
Cast: Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies
Synopsis
HIM stars former college wide-receiver Tyriq Withers (Atlanta, the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer) as Cameron Cade, a rising-star quarterback who has devoted his life, and identity, to football. On the eve of professional football’s annual scouting Combine, Cam is attacked by an unhinged fan and suffers a potentially career-ending brain trauma.
Just when all seems lost, Cam receives a lifeline when his hero, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), a legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar, offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife, Elsie White (Julia Fox; Uncut Gems, No Sudden Move). But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker, sending his protégé down a disorienting rabbit hole that may cost him more than he ever bargained for.
What scares you more: losing your dream, or becoming someone you no longer recognize to keep it alive? Are you ready to see Marlon Wayans like never before? Could HIM be your new horror obsession? Let me know your thoughts in the comments or @me.
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