Jordan Peele has made a name for himself as a visionary horror filmmaker, having directed films such as “Get Out” (2017), “Us” (2019), and “Nope” (2022). So when it was announced that he was producing “Him,” an American football-themed horror movie, there was a lot of anticipation for it. But unfortunately, those high expectations were not met.

While Peele did produce the movie, it was not directed by him. Instead, it was directed by Justin Tipping, starred Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans, and was made on a 27 million dollar budget. The movie is about Withers’ character, Cameron “Cam” Cade, an up-and-coming football star receiving a career-altering concussion. Cam is given the opportunity to train with his idol, star quarterback Isaiah White, at a remote compound. Cam hopes to be his successor, and Isaiah wants to retire.

At the compound, Isaiah puts Cam through multiple disturbing challenges that either cause him or forces him to cause others harm. During this, Cam is also being injected with a substance he is told is an “energy booster” and is experiencing hallucinations, which he blames on his concussion.

After multiple other tasks meant to train Cam into being a “winner,” and a scene where he finds the severed head of a sports doctor who tried to warn him about the team, Isaiah reveals that he is a part of a manufactured lineage of football players who gain abilities through ritual blood transfers in order to become “Greatest of All Time” (G.O.A.T.). The “energy boosters” he gave Cam had been Isaiah’s blood. He then tells Cam that they must fight for the transfer to be complete.

This film was really all over the place and felt like it had way more style than substance. The “what are you willing to do for fame” trope is extremely heavy-handed and has been done much better in other films.

The film includes visually stunning artistic camera work that illustrates Cam’s hallucinations and delirium. However, in terms of horror, the effects come off as pretentious.

The film’s other attempts at scares also fall flat, particularly when it involves body horror. The occult imagery and symbolism, while interesting concepts, felt overused and cliché.

Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans appear to be trying their best with subpar material. And the supporting cast fares much worse, with extremely wooden and stilted performances.

Bilge Ebiri says it best in his review in the Vulture, saying, “The movie at times plays like a high-budget student film.” Tipping seemed to really focus on artistic, surreal visuals and sound design, but as a result, the story suffered. Without strong plot and character development, the result is a ham-fisted and bizarre film that relies too much on a mixed bag of not very scary images.

While the concept of a football horror movie appeared promising, especially with Jordan Peele’s name plastered all over the marketing of the film, “Him” is a disappointing film that’s all style and little substance.

“Him” is currently in theaters and available to rent on Amazon Video or Apple TV.