by | Football has long stood as one of America’s most resilient institutions, celebrated for its grit, glory, and larger-than-life heroes. But behind the spectacle of packed stadiums and primetime broadcasts are questions about the costs of chasing greatness; questions that Him, the Jordan Peele-produced supernatural psychological sports horror film, places at the center of its story. As the NFL continues to face scrutiny over player safety, fan fanaticism, and the immense pressures placed on young athletes, Him uses the lens of horror to peel back the layers of America’s game, asking what sacrifices lie hidden beneath the pursuit of football immortality.
Few sports carry the cultural weight of football, where the pigskin is more than leather and laces; it symbolizes community, sacrifice, and sometimes obsession. The film, distributed and produced by Universal Pictures and Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, twists that symbol into something darker, asking: What price must be paid to hold the ball, and who decides who is worthy of greatness?
Directed by Justin Tipping and co-written with Skip Bronkie and Zack Akers, Him opens Sept. 19. The film follows Cameron “Cam” Cade (Tyriq Withers), a promising athlete whose career nearly ends after an obsessed fan attacks him. Just as hope slips away, Cade’s idol, legendary quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), invites him to train at his private compound. Over the course of several days, that mentorship devolves into something more sinister as Cade uncovers the rituals and manipulation behind White’s storied career.
Withers is freshly coming off, I know what you did last summer, which was released earlier this year, and is most recognized for his role as Aaron in Donald Glover’s Atlanta. Wayans, long known for his comedic chops in films like White Chicks and Scary Movie, takes a dramatic turn as White, showcasing his best audition as The Joker, portraying the quarterback as both mentor and the ultimate gaslighter. His performance transforms the archetype of the celebrated athlete into a manipulative figure who uses Cade’s ambition against him. Julia Fox, recognized for her role in Uncut Gems, stars as White’s wife Elsie, a social media influencer who is more involved in the game than what is initially presented.
The cast also includes comedian Tim Heidecker (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!), stand-up comic Jim Jefferies, and Don Benjamin as Cade’s father.
The screenplay began life as Goat, referencing both the sports acronym “greatest of all time” and the sacrificial undertones at the heart of the story. That metaphor runs throughout the film. Football fandom, often fueled by rituals, devotion, and near-religious fervor, becomes a backdrop for exploring how easily ambition and obsession can tip into fanaticism. For Cade, every pass and play with White isn’t just practice, it’s initiation into a cycle where chasing glory may demand more than sweat.
With a score by composer Bobby Krlic (Midsommar) and a soundtrack featuring new music from Jean Dawson, Guapdad 4000, and Tierra Whack, Him blends sports, horror, and surrealism into a cautionary tale. It plays like a public service announcement for parents wary of football’s toll, a reminder that the pursuit of “GOAT” status can come with a price no trophy can justify.
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