By Maxwell Vigue
Former sketch comic and horror movie producer Jordan Peele is once again hitting the big screen, this time with his upcoming American supernatural psychological sports thriller “Him,” directed by Justin Tipping.
The football horror film featuring Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans is setting itself up to explore the dark side of NFL fame, with the trailers depicting Tyriq’s character being taken under the wing of Isaiah White (Wayans’ character), the greatest quarterback in the league.
Showcasing hellish training, demonic sequences, and a brutal reality of the lifestyle of “the greatest,” while it is unclear how Tyriq’s character will endure in this setting, audience reception is filled with intrigue.
On X, David Peterson wrote: “Jordan Peele making a horror film about college football, idol worship, and the dark price of fame? Oh yeah. This one’s gonna mess with your head and your soul.”
Others were less impressed. One user wrote: “Jordan Peele is becoming the MCU of horror — same themes, just a new coat of paint.”
Still, excitement remains high. Another user compared the film to real-life football, writing: “Feels a lot like we are getting a movie that’s basically about Shedeur Sanders getting to meet and learn from Tom Brady. I’m so excited for this lol.”
The unorthodox approach of mixing these unusual niches makes for an interesting thought experiment, along with being able to reach a much wider audience and bring in fans into these two new genres.
The new direction of Peele’s vision could either make or break his reputation in the realm of producers, thus putting the pressure even more on Tipping’s directing ability.
With the movie set to release this Friday, Sept 19, will the public truly know the intricacies of Peele’s new work?
