'As a Jordan Peele fan, I have thoughts about his latest horror project.'

Him had everything going for it on paper: a bloody brilliant premise about toxic masculinity in sports, some genuinely incredible performances, and Jordan Peele's name attached as producer. And somehow, it still manages to fumble it. 

The story follows Cameron Cade, a rising quarterback whose career gets derailed when an unhinged fan attacks him, leaving him with a potentially career-ending injury. Just when all hope seems lost, his hero Isaiah White swoops in with an offer to train him at some isolated compound. Sounds like a sports comeback story, right? Wrong.

What starts as a mentorship quickly turns sinister as Isaiah's initial charisma morphs into something much darker and more manipulative. Cameron finds himself spiralling down a psychological rabbit hole that threatens to cost him way more than just his football career. 

Watch: The trailer for Him. Article continues after video.

The film tackles the cult-like nature of sports culture, examining how toxic masculinity festers within these environments and the disturbing spectacle of watching men inflict violence upon one another — a modern-day colosseum, as the film occasionally references. It's genuinely surprising that sports horror hasn't been explored more extensively, given how ripe the subject matter is for psychological and social commentary.

The pressure, the violence, the weird hero worship — it's horror gold waiting to be mined. The concept feels particularly relevant in our current cultural moment, where conversations about masculinity are evolving.

So what does Him get right? Well, first off, the casting choices. Because wow. Marlon Wayans delivers a powerhouse dramatic performance that showcases his range far beyond the comedy we know him for, proving he's capable of carrying weighty, complex material. But it's Tyriq Withers who emerges as the film's secret weapon — mark my words, this man is going to be a star. His performance is magnetic, nuanced, and suggests a bright future ahead.

Here's my biggest gripe though: this film is SO repetitive. Like, painfully so. The same moody shots, the same ominous music cues, over and over again. 

It's all atmosphere and moodiness — which, don't get me wrong, can work brilliantly when done right — but there's barely any genuine scares to be found. The film seems to think that lingering shots and creepy music equal horror, but honestly? I kept feeling like I was watching the same scene over and over again. Each scene kept hitting the same few beats without leading me anywhere new. 

Image: Universal Pictures

You know that feeling when a song has a really good hook, but then just plays it on repeat for three minutes? That's Him in a nutshell.

Now, I'm a massive Jordan Peele fan — the man is a genius when it comes to elevated horror that actually has something to say. So when I saw his name attached to this project, my expectations were through the roof. But here's the thing: Peele produced Him, he didn't write or direct it, and to be very honest, it shows. 

Get Out and Nope — in my humble opinion — are masterclasses in how to balance social commentary with genuine scares while maintaining narrative coherence from beginning to end. Those films had a clear vision and stuck to it. Him, on the other hand, feels like it's missing that distinctive Peele touch — that ability to weave meaning into every frame without sacrificing the horror elements.

It's disappointing, to say the least, because you can see glimpses of what this could have been with his full creative involvement. Instead, we got a promising premise without the delivery. 

The film's fatal flaw lies in its third act, where any social commentary gets abandoned in favour of gory chaos, and the movie quickly devolves into mindless violence. I'll be honest, I'm still not sure what was going on in the end there. 

This descent into gore-for-gore's-sake feels particularly disappointing given the depth and potential of the themes. The film had an opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the cultural conversations around masculinity and violence, but instead opts for cheap thrills.

Image: Universal Pictures

The performances are there, the concept is brilliant, and there are moments where you catch a glimpse of what this film could have been in more capable hands. 

But instead of being a meaningful exploration of toxic masculinity that actually contributes something to the conversation, it's just another case of elevated horror that forgot to stay elevated.

And perhaps that's the worst part for me. The potential this film had that was never realised. In fact, I personally love this premise so much that I would love to see another writer take a stab at this exact subject matter. But make it better. 

Worth watching for the concept alone? Potentially. Just maybe lower your expectations for that final act and prepare to be a bit frustrated by what could have been.

Sometimes having Jordan Peele's name on something isn't enough.

Feature Image: Monkeypaw Productions.