The new film, Him, came out in theaters on September 17, 2025. I will do my best to avoid any spoilers, but I want to share my thoughts on what stood out. This movie was directed by Justin Tipping, making it his second movie. Many people, including myself, assumed from the marketing that Jordan Peele was the director. After some research, I learned that Peele actually was the producer, which made me wonder if emphasizing his name was a marketing technique to draw in his fans. 

The movie tells the story of rising star Cam Cade, a top football player who is about to be drafted. When one of his childhood idols invites him to train together, Cade jumps at the opportunity, but quickly realizes that something is off. As Cade starts to train, he faces choices about power, identity, and what the game wants from the people who play it. 

What I appreciated the most about Him is that it’s the type of movie that makes you think about the different layers of meaning. I thought this movie brought up the themes of football culture, religion, sacrifice, and race. Even though I picked up on a few of these themes, reviews I read afterward showed me just how much more there was to unpack.

For the performances, I thought Marlon Wayans’ acting was incredible. I was surprised to see how well he portrayed this role since he is usually in comedy movies. Tyriq Withers, who plays Cam Cade, also impressed me. I hadn’t seen his work before, but I have heard positive things about his performances in other projects. Like his character in Him, I think Withers has a bright future ahead in acting. 

While the movie is labeled as horror, I would consider it more of a thriller. There were only a few jump scares. There was more of a dark feeling to it that created tension as the movie went on. There were many symbols and metaphors embedded within the movie as well. I would rewatch it just to catch more of the details I missed the first time. If you enjoy movies that make you think, and leave you reflecting afterward, I would recommend Him, even with the negative reviews. But if you’re looking for a traditional horror movie with nonstop scares, this might not be the right option. 

Overall, I thought Him was a unique idea, since there’re not many horror movies that dive deep into the culture of football. This movie was something fresh and thought provoking, with many more layers than what reviews give it credit for.