'Him' Review: Tyriq Withers Leads Jordan Peele's Gruesome Football Thriller
Horror films have explored haunted houses, cursed artifacts, and sinister cults, but few have delved into the world of professional sports. Jordan Peele’s latest production, Him, directed by Justin Tipping (Kicks), seeks to change that with a chilling story about the dark side of ambition in football.
Jordan Peele’s Him blends football and horror, following a rising quarterback drawn into dark rituals on his path to greatness.
Universal Pictures
The film follows Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers, I Know What You Did Last Summer), a standout college quarterback preparing for an NFL career. His path takes a nightmarish turn when he is attacked by a masked figure before a scouting event, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury. Despite medical warnings to abandon the game, Cade refuses to give up his dreams, influenced by his father’s relentless pursuit of success and the urgings of his agent, played by Tim Heidecker.
Cade soon begins training under Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), a legendary quarterback he has admired since childhood. At White’s remote desert compound, Cade’s phone is confiscated, cutting him off from the outside world under the guise of “radical detachment.” From this point, his training spirals into psychological manipulation and grueling physical challenges.
White’s methods include relentless verbal intimidation, brutal practice drills, and the unsettling requirement of frequent blood transfusions. Cade witnesses other athletes endure disturbing punishments, reinforcing the cult-like environment surrounding White and his team.
Supporting roles add layers of unease to the narrative. Jim Jefferies portrays a sardonic sports doctor, MMA fighter Maurice Greene plays the intimidating trainer, and Julia Fox appears as White’s eccentric influencer wife. Together, they create an atmosphere where ambition and horror collide.
Visually, the film experiments with striking techniques, including X-ray style depictions of internal injuries during violent training sequences. Composer Bobby Krlic, also known as The Haxan Cloak, delivers an eerie score that heightens the tension. Withers embodies the role of a determined yet vulnerable athlete, while Wayans delivers a commanding presence that blurs the line between mentor and tormentor.
As the story progresses, the film leans heavily into surrealism. Audiences encounter bizarre imagery, including a reenactment of The Last Supper, that pushes the narrative into uncharted territory. The climactic final act intensifies the gore and spectacle, leaving viewers divided between shock and disbelief.
Him attempts to reveal the destructive extremes of professional football culture by merging sports drama with horror. Through its mix of ambition, ritual, and physical sacrifice, the film offers a disturbing look at what it costs to pursue greatness.
