‘Jordan Peele’: from Comedy Genius to Horror Kingmaker

By Janet Grant

There aren’t many filmmakers working today whose name alone can sell a movie, but Jordan Peele is one of them. What makes his journey so fascinating is that it didn’t begin in a film school or with an indie short that set Sundance on fire, it started with sketch comedy.

Back in his MADtv days, Peele’s sharp wit and skill for impersonation stood out, but it was Key & Peele, his Comedy Central show with Keegan-Michael Key, that turned him into a household name. Those sketches weren’t just funny, they had bite. Beneath the laughs was social commentary, satire, and cultural critique. That mix of humour and depth turned out to be the perfect training ground for what Peele would do next.

When Get Out landed in 2017, it shook Hollywood. Here was a horror film that doubled as a social thriller, unpacking racism in America through a story about a young Black man meeting his white girlfriend’s family. It was terrifying, funny, smart, and painfully relevant. The film won Peele an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and announced him as a director with a unique voice.

He followed up with Us (2019), a film that dove into identity and duality, and then Nope (2022), a genre-bending spectacle about exploitation, spectacle itself, and the costs of chasing fame. Each movie was different, but all carried Peele’s trademark blend of thrills and thought. And through his production company, Monkeypaw Productions, Peele has also championed other projects like Candyman (2021), the stop-motion gem Wendell & Wild (2022), and Dev Patel’s Monkey Man (2024).

That brings us to HIM (2025), the latest film Peele co-produced. Directed by Justin Tipping, HIM is a horror-drama centred on college quarterback Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers), whose future in football is threatened after a head injury. Seeking help, he turns to retired star Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), who trains him at a secluded compound that feels part boot camp, part cult. What follows is a spiral of psychological manipulation, eerie rituals, and the kind of religious overtones that make your skin crawl.

Peele’s latest production: HIM

There’s a lot about HIM that’s ambitious. The collision of sports culture, horror, and religious zealotry is a fresh angle, and when it works, it’s chilling. Peele’s influence can be felt in the way the film frames the pressure put on young Black athletes, the obsession with greatness, and the question of what gets sacrificed on the way to the top. The atmosphere is tense, the visuals striking, and the sound design often unsettling.

Marlon Wayans, best known for his comedic chops, delivers a surprisingly layered performance as Isaiah White. He brings charm and menace in equal measure, making it believable that Cameron could be drawn into his orbit. Tyriq Withers also holds his own, portraying both the drive of a rising star and the vulnerability of someone unsure of who to trust.

However, HIM doesn’t quite stick the landing. At times, the symbolism is so heavy-handed that it drowns out the story’s emotional core. The film wants to be both a critique of sports culture and a supernatural horror, but it doesn’t always balance the two. There are moments when the pacing falters, and the message overshadows the characters.

Still, even with its flaws, HIM is an intriguing addition to Peele’s growing legacy as a producer. It shows his willingness to back bold ideas, even ones that don’t fully come together. For fans of Peele’s work, it’s worth seeing for its ambition alone.

Peele’s Legacy in Motion

What Peele has built so far is remarkable: a space where Black stories in genre film can thrive. Whether or not every project he touches hits the same high mark, he’s changing what horror and genre storytelling look like in Hollywood. He’s a director, producer, and tastemaker—and every move he makes gets people talking.

With HIM, Peele proves once again that he’s not afraid to take risks, even if it means backing a film that splits audiences. That’s what makes him exciting: the sense that the next project could once again change the conversation.

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