Few filmmakers have reshaped modern horror like Jordan Peele, whose production company thrives on stories that stick in the mind long after the final scene. “HIM” tries to follow in that same rhythm, blending football with psychological terror — but this uniquely conceptual movie struggles to reel in an audience.
The film, released on Friday, Sept. 19, features a unique storyline with layered themes, unnerving visuals and a plot exposing the darker costs of ambition. On paper, “HIM” acts as a football movie wrapped in psychological horror antics, and while the trailers seemed promising, the result of this film fumbled.
College quarterback Cam Cade is our main character, who suffers a devastating brain injury that derails his career. Isaiah White, a retired legendary quarterback for the Saviors, swoops in and offers Cade a lifeline. White invites Cade to his private compound, promising to rebuild him into a star.
Training at this compound quickly turns into something ritualistic, as White’s methods push Cade into a psychological spiral. The movie blends sports culture with cult-like devotion, using long, drawn-out shots of isolated training grounds and distorted sound to turn football drills into scenes of indoctrination.
The film’s eerie style didn’t click with every viewer. Skylar Gravatt, an attendee of the screening, called the movie “odd,” further explaining how it failed to measure up to Peele’s other work. “The trailer looked really good,” he commented. “I was a little disappointed. I get the story – and it wasn’t bad, but I just think the trailer made it look a lot better than it really turned out to be.”
Skylar’s reaction to “HIM” highlights a broader frustration where good marketing can mask expectations and leave fans confused or misled.
Shawn Gravatt walked out with a similar impression, though he never had high hopes from the start. He said the movie played out exactly as he expected. “Nothing really took me by surprise. It was virtually identical to what I expected.” For Shawn, predictability dulled the experience, with the movie relying on extreme visuals to shock the audience.
He added the film leaned too heavily on familiar beats, comparing it to the 1997 film “The Devil’s Advocate” in the way it framed its story. “The only thing I didn’t like about it was nothing came as a surprise,” he explained. The similarities, he said, made the movie feel less distinct and more like a retelling of ideas audiences had already seen before. While the ritualistic sports training angle gave it a unique backdrop, the writing wasn’t elevated enough to transform the film into something fresh.
The broad consensus online also paints the picture: On IMDb, “HIM” sits at 5.4 out of 10 and then lands a whopping 31% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences have been a little kinder, giving it a 57% approval, but even those numbers suggest a division rather than universal acclaim.
Still, “HIM” had some standout moments. The ritualistic training sequences hit the hardest, framing Cade as both competitor and captive. White drives Cade past his limits, forcing the audience to see how sports culture can resemble a cult. The cinematography drives this point home, locking the camera low to the ground and showing Cade as if he struggles under White’s shadow.
“HIM” doesn’t fully live up to its bold ambitions in the end, but it isn’t without merit. The unsettling atmosphere and layered ideas give viewers something to chew on, even if the film is carried by unsettling visuals. The tension this movie brings outweighs the results, and for many, the trailer may have promised more than the film could deliver. Either way, “HIM” may not reach the lasting cultural impact of cult-classic Peele horror films such as “Get Out” or “Nope,” but it forces a conversation about ambition and the haunting price of chasing perfection — on the field and far beyond it.
