“Him” Tackles Terrifying Truths: Jordan Peele’s Latest Production Explores Football's Dark Side

From the creative depths of Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions comes “Him,” a chilling new horror entry that laces the high-stakes world of high school football with a palpable sense of dread. Directed by Justin Tipping, this film attempts to weave together supernatural terror with incisive social commentary, focusing on the immense pressures faced by young Black athletes.

The narrative centers on a promising Black football player, eager to secure a college scholarship that promises a brighter future for his family.

His path, however, takes a sinister turn with the arrival of a mysterious, preternaturally gifted teammate. This new presence doesn’t just elevate the team; it begins to unravel the fabric of reality for our protagonist, pulling him into a psychological battle where his identity, sanity, and very soul are on the line.

The film masterfully exploits the claustrophobia of the locker room, the brutal ballet of the football field, and the crushing weight of expectation to build an atmosphere thick with unease.

Visually, “Him” is a standout. Tipping uses the iconography of American football—the helmets, the pads, the roar of the crowd—to great effect, twisting symbols of triumph into unsettling harbingers of doom.

The cinematography often feels dreamlike, blurring the lines between what is real and what is a manifestation of the protagonist’s deteriorating mental state. Performances are strong across the board, particularly the lead, who conveys the character's escalating terror and internal conflict with raw vulnerability.

There are moments of genuine, skin-crawling horror that prove the film’s efficacy in delivering genre thrills.

However, where “Him” occasionally fumbles is in the execution of its more ambitious themes. The film bravely attempts to explore complex issues like racial identity, the crushing weight of systemic expectations, and toxic masculinity within competitive sports.

While these elements are undeniably present, they sometimes feel like threads that aren't fully woven into the tapestry of the horror, leaving them slightly underdeveloped. The narrative occasionally struggles to balance its supernatural scares with its deeper social critique, resulting in moments where the message feels a little less potent than its terrifying imagery.

Jordan Peele’s influence is evident in the film’s commitment to elevated horror, striving for meaning beyond mere jump scares.

While it doesn't quite reach the narrative tightness or thematic profundity of a “Get Out” or “Us,” “Him” is nonetheless an intriguing and often terrifying addition to the modern horror landscape. It asks important questions about the sacrifices we make for success and the psychological cost of chasing an elusive dream.

Ultimately, “Him” is a film that will resonate with horror fans seeking something more substantial than average.

It's a visually compelling, atmospherically rich, and unsettling experience that, despite a few missteps in thematic cohesion, delivers a memorable and thought-provoking take on the intersection of sports, identity, and the truly horrifying.