Him (2025)
HIM (2025) – A Chilling Descent into the Darkness of Greatness
Genre: Sports Horror | Produced by Jordan Peele | Release Date: September 19, 2025
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| Theatrical Release Poster |
Quick Information
- Title: Him (2025)
- Genre: Sports, Horror, Psychological Thriller
- Directed by: Justin Tipping
- Written by: Zack Akers, Skip Bronkie, Justin Tipping
- Produced by: Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, Jamal M. Watson
- Production Companies: Monkeypaw Productions, Universal Pictures
- Distributor: Universal Pictures
- Cast:
- Marlon Wayans as Isaiah White
- Tyriq Withers as Cameron Cade
- Julia Fox
- Tim Heidecker
- Jim Jefferies
- Maurice Greene
- Tierra Whack
- Guapdad 4000
- Runtime: Estimated ~2 hours
- Language: English
- Release Date: September 19, 2025 (USA & UK)
- Original Title: GOAT (renamed to Him)
- Trailer: Released June 2025 by Universal Pictures
Introduction: What is Him (2025)?
Him is not your typical horror film—it’s an introspective, disturbing tale about ambition, sacrifice, and the price of greatness within the high-stakes world of American football. Directed by Justin Tipping and produced by genre mastermind Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us, Nope), Him merges the adrenaline of sports with the dread of horror to create a narrative that is both visceral and psychological.
The story follows a young athlete, Cameron Cade, who after a brutal attack, is taken under the wing of football legend Isaiah White. But what seems like a healing opportunity turns into a descent into something far darker—rituals, cultism, and twisted mentorship rooted in control, fame, and fear.
Plot Breakdown: When Winning Costs Your Soul
⚠️ Minor Spoilers Below
Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers), a rising football talent preparing for the NFL Combine, is violently attacked by an obsessed fan. The trauma threatens to destroy his career—until Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), a revered and enigmatic former quarterback, offers him a second chance.
Isaiah invites Cameron to a private training compound. Isolated from the outside world, the compound becomes a strange, almost mystical place where football is no longer a game—it’s a religion. Cade is mentored in ways that go far beyond strategy and athleticism. He’s pushed physically, emotionally, and spiritually—until he starts questioning whether greatness is earned or demanded through dark sacrifice.
As the line between motivation and manipulation blurs, Cade uncovers disturbing rituals, hidden hierarchies, and a secret society bound by the pursuit of glory at any cost.
Behind-the-Scenes: The Making of a Genre-Bending Film
🎬 Directorial Vision
Justin Tipping, known for Kicks (2016), brings a raw, grounded style to the supernatural. His approach combines gritty realism with surreal dread. He has described Him as a “spaghetti western in cleats,” focusing on solitude, tension, and power dynamics.
🎥 Filming Locations
The secluded training camp was filmed in parts of rural Georgia and California, with actual football fields retrofitted to appear haunted and militarized.
🛠️ Production Trivia
- Practical Effects: Most horror sequences avoided CGI. Real prosthetics and body paint were used for dream/hallucination scenes.
- Football Accuracy: Withers, a former wide receiver at Florida, performed most of his own football scenes without stunt doubles.
- Trauma Coaching: The cast worked with psychologists to accurately portray post-traumatic stress and mental manipulation.
Cast & Character Spotlight
⭐ Marlon Wayans – Isaiah White
Wayans takes a major turn from comedy into psychological drama. Isaiah White is layered—part mentor, part manipulator, and maybe something darker. Critics say it may be Wayans’ most career-defining performance.
⭐ Tyriq Withers – Cameron Cade
A breakout role. Withers delivers vulnerability, drive, and fear in equal measure. Cade’s descent into confusion is the soul of the film.
⭐ Julia Fox – Elsie
Isaiah’s mysterious partner—possibly involved in the rituals. Her role is limited in trailers but hinted to be pivotal.
⭐ Tierra Whack & Guapdad 4000
Both musicians play minor but symbolic roles—portraying young hopefuls who don’t survive Isaiah’s system.
Symbolism & Themes
- Greatness vs. Humanity: The title “Him” reflects the way society deifies elite athletes, erasing their humanity.
- Sacrifice & Cult Mentality: The film explores how success often demands personal loss—and how that demand can become organized, even religious.
- Legacy & Manipulation: Isaiah uses mentorship as control, echoing how authority figures weaponize dreams.
Deleted Scenes (Reported So Far)
While the full film hasn’t premiered yet, early screeners and insiders report these deleted or trimmed scenes:
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“Locker Room Baptism”: A scene where new players are baptized in ice water while blindfolded. Allegedly removed for being “too intense” for PG-13.
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Extended Ending: One version reportedly ended with Isaiah committing an irreversible ritual—but test audiences found it too bleak.
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Coach’s Journal: A subplot involving Isaiah’s old journal detailing his descent into cultism was cut but may be released as a bonus.
Expect all of these in the Blu-ray or Peacock release, likely early 2026.
Facts About Him (2025)
- Him was originally titled GOAT before being renamed in late 2024.
- The screenplay appeared on The Black List in 2022, highlighting it as one of the best unproduced scripts of that year.
- The film is produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, known for groundbreaking horror hits like Get Out and Us.
- Director Justin Tipping aimed to create a blend of sports drama and psychological horror, describing the movie as a “spaghetti western in cleats.”
- Lead actor Tyriq Withers is a former college football player, bringing authenticity to the role of Cameron Cade.
- Filming wrapped in November 2024, with locations including rural Georgia and California.
- The score is composed by Bobby Krlic (The Haxan Cloak), known for atmospheric and haunting music.
- Him is set to release theatrically on September 19, 2025, in the US and UK.
- The film explores themes of sacrifice, cult mentality, and the psychological toll of elite sports.
Fan Reactions & Buzz
Fans of Jordan Peele have called Him one of the “most unexpected genre crossovers” of the year.
Social Media Trends
- #FaceHim – Refers to the entity or pressure Cameron faces
- #SacrificeIsGreatness – A controversial slogan used by Isaiah in the trailer
- #MarlonWayansOscar – Viewers already predicting awards for his role
Early Impressions
- “Like Get Out but with turf burns.” – Reddit user
- “Finally, horror that talks about athletic trauma.” – TikTok reaction
- “Cameron Cade is the next Daniel Kaluuya.” – Twitter buzz
Critical Expectations
Critics from Entertainment Weekly, GamesRadar, and Fangoria have praised the trailer for its:
- Atmosphere: Shadowy locker rooms, blood rituals, eerie chants
- Acting: Withers and Wayans dominate early reviews
- Themes: Grounded in trauma, not just gore
Many expect it to debut at Venice or TIFF 2025 before wide release.
Trailer Breakdown
The trailer opens with Cameron training in silence, hearing faint whispers. Isaiah's voice echoes: “Do you want to be great? Then kill the part of you that isn't.”
Suddenly, the visuals flash to:
- Rituals in locker rooms
- Cade vomiting blood after a chant
- Elsie whispering to a group of young players
- A scoreboard ticking down into darkness
It ends with Cade facing a masked figure—likely “Him.”
Marketing & Release Timeline
- Title Reveal: Originally called GOAT (changed late 2024)
- Poster Drop: March 2025
- Teaser Trailer: June 2025
- Full Trailer: August 2025
- Premiere: September 10, 2025 (expected at TIFF)
- Wide Release: September 19, 2025
Conclusion: Why Him Matters
Him isn’t just a horror movie. It’s a mirror to our obsession with glory and winning at all costs. With stunning performances, unsettling realism, and the signature Jordan Peele-style blend of genre with commentary, this movie is poised to redefine sports cinema—and horror with it.
Prepare to be haunted. Not just by “Him,” but by the truth it reveals.
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