Him (2025) is billed as a comedy/horror/thriller produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions. The story follows a young, up-and-coming football player training at the isolated compound of an aging, nearly retired quarterback.

Our test subject, a casual fan of both football and horror, wasn’t sure what to expect from this unusual crossover. Would she be intrigued by the concept, or would it be sudden death before kickoff?

SYNOPSIS:

A young athlete descends into a world of terror when he’s invited to train with a legendary champion whose charisma curdles into something darker.

Where We Monitored: In Theater

Test Subject: Leah

Age: 44

Gender: Female

Fears: Athlemophobia or Sports Performance Anxiety

Resting HR: 60-65bpm

Walking HR: 80-85bpm

ANALYSIS:

The film opens with awkward pacing, rushing through key character development. About thirty minutes in, the lights dimmed and we thought we might record her first spike in heart rate. Not so. Instead, she was met with a quiet, brooding lead who was difficult to empathize with, leaving her heart rate flatlined at resting levels for nearly 45 minutes. Her enthusiasm drained with every passing play.

At FearScale, we avoid deep dives into narrative unless it impacts energy, and here, it did. While the symbolism was clear, the scares weren’t. Much of the film felt like an experimental student project trying too hard to be strange.

The saving grace came in the wild, gory finale. The practical effects and chaotic imagery finally jolted our subject to an elevated heart rate of 85bpm, giving the movie a brief but explosive payoff.

CONCLUSION:

Him (2025) is an underwhelming entry in the horror playbook, more like watching an NFL combine on acid than a fear-inducing thriller. We’re not here to parse deeper meanings, only to track scares, and there were precious few. Even with its bloody final act, Him couldn’t keep possession. In the end, this one fumbled the frights right at the goal line.

Him (2025): Burns an average of 155 Calories

An NFL lineman playing for an hour: 1200 Calories

How many Fear Calories did you burn watching Him (2025) ?  Let us know in the comments below or on Instagram, and Facebook