In this episode, we dive into Him (2025) — directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele, Ian Cooper, Win Rosenfeld, and Jamal M. Watson for Monkeypaw Productions. Starring Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, and Tim Heidecker, the film explores the exploitation of youth athletes and the hidden costs associated with the pursuit of greatness.

From Faustian bargains and identity sacrifices to the trauma of body and mind, Him explores how faith, idolization, and the seductive promise of legacy can push athletes toward self‐compromise and ruin.

But does the film fully understand the implications of what it stages? We unpack its ambitions, themes, and where it falls short.

Host(s) Thomas, Mike