HIM: Jordan Peele’s New Horror Movie Turns Football into a Nightmare

Jordan Peele returns to horror with a twisted new vision, this time, set against the backdrop of football glory and personal ambition. HIM, releasing on September 19, 2025, turns the American dream of sports stardom into something deeply disturbing.

Initially, the film was titled GOAT, but due to an animated movie with the same name, the team changed it to HIM. In fact, the new title feels even more fitting, it better captures the obsession, control, and fear that drive the story forward.

Produced by Peele and written by Zack Akers, Skip Bronkie, and Justin Tipping, HIM follows Cameron Cade (played by rising star Tyriq Withers), a gifted young football player hungry for greatness. He looks up to Isaiah White, a legendary quarterback nearing retirement. Isaiah is played by Marlon Wayans, in what might be the most unexpected and intense performance of his career.

HIM | Official Trailer

When Isaiah offers to personally train Cam at his private compound, it feels like a dream come true. But the dream begins to sour fast. The compound is isolated, unnerving, and far from the world Cam knows. Isaiah lives there with his wife Elsie White (played by Julia Fox of Uncut Gems fame), a high-profile influencer who watches everything with a cold and calculating eye.

At first, Cam throws himself into training. Isaiah pushes him hard, promising greatness, but slowly, Cam realizes that something isn’t right. The pressure turns suffocating. The guidance feels more like control. What seemed like mentorship starts to look more like manipulation. Cam finds himself trapped in a psychological game where the goalpost keeps moving.

Isaiah’s charm begins to unravel. At first, he seems like a tough but caring mentor. But soon, he becomes overbearing, intimidating, and even cruel. Surprisingly, Marlon Wayans, known for his comedy, delivers a haunting performance that erases every trace of the funnyman we remember. He’s commanding, threatening, and fully in control. It’s terrifying to watch, and impossible to look away.

HIM is Sports gone horror

As the plot progresses, Cam starts to lose himself. He questions what’s real, who he can trust, and whether success is worth this kind of sacrifice. HIM doesn’t rely on cheap scares. Instead, it creeps under your skin with psychological tension, emotional manipulation, and a chilling look at how blind devotion can turn dangerous.

Ultimately, the film roots its horror in reality, drawing from ambition, power, and the dark side of mentorship. It’s about the cost of chasing greatness when your hero demands everything, including your identity.

In the end, HIM promises to be a bold, thought-provoking entry into the horror genre. Jordan Peele’s influence is clear: the film asks difficult questions, shines a light on uncomfortable truths, and delivers performances that stick with you.

Simply put, football has never looked this terrifying. Don’t miss HIM when it hits theaters on September 19, 2025.