Him review: A passable but disappointing horror movie

“Why you can trust Digital Trends – We have a 20-year history of testing, reviewing, and rating products, services and apps to help you make a sound buying decision. Find out more about how we test and score products.“

Producer Jordan Peele’s latest horror film, Him, has unleashed a bloody and bonkers satire of American football. Directed and co-written by Justin Tipping (Joe vs. Carole), Him follows rising football star Cameron “Cam” Cade (Tyriq Withers), who is invited to train with his hero, legendary quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). While this seems like a dream come true, it soon devolves into a hellish nightmare as Isaiah pushes Cam to his limits in his quest for success.

As a satirical sports horror, Him boasts a unique premise with plenty of intriguing ideas about how people perceive football and treat its athletes. However, even with its powerful performances and dazzling, frightening imagery, the movie falls short of its lofty ambition due to its underdeveloped characters, excessive style, and incoherent story.

Him injects too much satirical symbolism into the story

The central theme of Him‘s story is sacrifice in the pursuit of fame, fortune, and glory. Cam is told throughout the film that he must do whatever it takes in order to become the G.O.A.T. of football, even if it means sacrificing his time, health, and morality.

The film thus explores the dehumanizing nature of professional sports, all while invoking numerous references to Roman gladiators and religion. The film isn’t exactly subtle in its use of Christian symbolism. At one point, Cam does a photo-op recreating “The Last Supper” as he discusses his father’s “sacrifice.” Cam’s journey to become the G.O.A.T. even transforms into a Satanic ritual, featuring human sacrifice and a possible deal with the Devil.

Him‘s allegories succeed in satirizing people’s dangerous, cult-like obsession with such a violent game, disregarding the damage it is doing to its players. Despite this, the movie’s religious overtones become too heavy-handed for its own good. The film makes it crystal clear that Cam is being inducted into a deadly religious cult, making it difficult to take the film’s story seriously.

The film goes completely offside during its big, bloody finale. It is somewhat cathartic to see Cam exact brutal Tarantino-style vengeance on those who abused and manipulated him. However, the supernatural nature of the film’s demonic sports cult remains unclear, with one man literally blowing up in a Satanic sacrifice for some reason. All the random occurrences and lingering questions make for a baffling, unsatisfying finale.

The protagonist fails to achieve greatness

It is hard to empathize with Cam and grasp the full weight of his sacrificial journey when his character seems flat and nonsensical. Cam seems far too passive about the unusual and horrific things he witnesses during the film, making it hard to invest in his character. Even when Isaiah’s crew repeatedly launches footballs point-blank into a man’s face, Cam doesn’t seem that fazed by it.

Cam’s story is supposed to explore ideas of free will, as he seemed destined to play football. Everyone groomed him to become Isaiah’s successor since childhood. However, Cam’s choices in the face of Isaiah’s horrific abuse don’t display the sense of entrapment he feels as an athlete playing to survive and hold onto his career. The film thus misses the opportunity to make a deeper commentary about the flaws in professional football.

Him also doesn’t delve into Cam’s relationships with his family or his girlfriend enough. The film instead relies on fleeting references and brief phone calls to them to remind audiences of his life outside of football. Exploring more of Cam’s relationship with his loved ones would have made his motivations clearer and his character arc much more impactful.

Him does emphasize Cam’s relationship with his father. While Cam says he plays football to please his father, there is hardly any indication that the latter didn’t love him enough. Cam even blames himself for his father’s death after saying he didn’t want to play football anymore, which doesn’t make enough sense with the context given.

Some strong players carry the film

Marlon Wayans delivers a standout performance as the villain Isaiah. Wayans draws on his years of comedy experience to bring humor and menace to his character. It’s hard to predict Isaiah’s next move, as he quickly shifts between a charming, witty mentor and a sadistic, dehumanizing drill sergeant. Wayans also brings plenty of soul to his character as the latter laments his impending retirement.

As he portrays the film’s protagonist, Tyriq Withers invokes tearful pathos and primal fury throughout Cam’s brutal journey. Julia Fox (Uncut Gems) brings humor and unease as Isaiah’s wife and oddball influencer, Elsie. Comedian Jim Jeffries also brings his own wit to his role as the jaded but empathetic doctor, Marco.

Him achieves some stylish scares

Despite its narrative flaws, Him succeeds in creating a frightening, unnerving atmosphere that conveys the pressure put on Cam’s psyche throughout the film. White’s compound sits isolated in the desert with obsessed fans sitting outside it day and night, setting up Cam’s week of training as a hellish, Mansonesque retreat.

The film also bombards the audience with surreal, visceral images presented by cinematographer Kira Kelly (13th) and editor Taylor Joy Mason (A Black Lady Sketch). By featuring X-ray shots of players breaking bones and rattling brains, Him makes its viewers feel the characters’ pain as Isaiah’s brutal game twists them inside and out.

Even with its stylish and unsettling visuals, the movie’s true terror seems bogged down by its vague story and over-the-top symbolism. Him doesn’t showcase the true tragedy of Cam’s fallen character, making his arc less frightening than it could’ve been. At the same time, the movie tries so hard to poke fun at pro football with its religious allegory that it fails to invoke enough genuine horror.

Is Him worth a watch?

Horror fans looking for a weird, wild new film may want to check out Him. Though Jordan Peele produced this film, they shouldn’t go in expecting a modern classic. While it had the ingredients to be another frightening masterpiece in 2025, the story’s protagonist is left sorely undercooked, and the film overdoses on religious allegory and surreal visuals in an attempt to hook its audience.

Given how many athletes have succumbed to career-ending and brain-shattering injuries, Him seemed like a promising, much-needed horror film. Justin Tipping and his team deserve some credit, as their efforts to create a spectacular and riveting story are seen in the movie. But like Cam, Him sacrifices a whole lot and ends up losing its way during its creative pursuits.

Him is now playing in theaters.