Jordan Peele’s ‘Him’ Explores Football’s Dark Side in a Genre-Bending Horror

Jordan Peele’s latest horror production, ‘Him,’ directed by Justin Tipping, plunges audiences into the unsettling world of professional football, offering a unique and often bizarre take on the sport’s cult-like nature. The film, starring Marlon Wayans as an aging superstar quarterback Isaiah White and Tyriq Withers as his ambitious successor Cameron Cade, challenges traditional sports narratives by dissecting the psychological toll and moral compromises inherent in elite athletics.

The narrative unfolds as Cam, recovering from a mysterious brain injury, arrives at Isaiah’s secluded compound for training. What begins as a quest for mentorship quickly devolves into a descent into madness, revealing the extreme lengths to which players, fans, and even team executives are entangled in a system of unchecked power and fanaticism. The film doesn’t shy away from graphic depictions, including a shocking scene where a team owner meets a gruesome end, underscoring the filmmakers’ intent to critique the sport’s darker underbelly without pulling punches.

While ‘Him’ has drawn attention for its audacious themes and willingness to subvert expectations, critics have noted inconsistencies in its internal logic and plot. Despite these flaws, the movie is lauded for its novel contributions to the genre of football-themed cinema, particularly in its exploration of the intense, often parasocial relationships between quarterbacks and their fans, and the psychological demands placed on those who reach the pinnacle of the sport. The film provocatively suggests that to endure the immense pressure of being a great quarterback requires a level of arrogance and detachment bordering on psychopathy.

The movie’s most chilling moments expose the ‘machine’ behind professional football, from bizarre initiation rituals involving blood transfusions to the revelation that almost everyone, including agents and celebrity spouses, is an operative within the team’s intricate power structure. Ultimately, ‘Him’ delivers a visceral commentary on corporate control and the corrupting influence of unchecked power in professional sports, leaving audiences to ponder the true cost of athletic glory.

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