The Jordan Peele horror film ‘Him’ is facing serious accusations of plot theft, as claims have emerged that it closely mirrors an earlier, unproduced screenplay. The controversy centers on the striking similarities between ‘Him’ and the 2019 screenplay ‘Vampire Touchdown,’ which was published on The Black List, a well-known platform for highly regarded but unsold scripts.
Details of the Alleged Story Theft
According to Chris Gore of Film Threat, the narrative of ‘Him’ closely follows ‘Vampire Touchdown,’ almost scene for scene. Both stories revolve around a football prodigy who is granted another chance at glory after a debilitating injury. In ‘Him,’ actor Tyriq Withers plays this athlete, who enters into a pact with the Devil to claim the fame and fortune once held by his hero, portrayed by a manic Marlon Wayans. On the other hand, ‘Vampire Touchdown’ depicts the main character transforming into a vampire to regain the opportunity he lost.
The screenplay for ‘Vampire Touchdown’ was co-written by Matt Landsman and Matthew Szewczyk and gained attention within industry circles after its 2019 listing on The Black List. Despite interest from insiders, the script remains in development limbo with no significant progress, effectively stalled before production could begin.
Reactions from Industry Observers
Chris Gore, who reviewed ‘Him’ for Film Threat, expressed frustration both with the film’s lackluster quality and the plot similarities. Although he noted some differences between the two works, he found the resemblance close enough to raise questions. Gore was particularly disappointed that ‘Him’ failed to deliver on the promise of its trailer and ultimately did not succeed as a horror film.
Additionally, The Dor Brothers, creative professionals known for their AI-generated trailers, produced a trailer based on the ‘Vampire Touchdown’ script. Their work has been praised for its concept and execution, and Gore expressed eagerness to see that film made, in contrast to his opinion of ‘Him.’
Current Status and Audience Response
‘Him’ is currently playing in theaters but has faced poor reviews and low audience enthusiasm, partly due to its heavily satanic themes and, now, the accusations of unoriginality. Despite being marketed as a compelling horror entry, it has failed to connect with viewers and critics alike. The controversy surrounding its storyline furthers doubts about the film’s creative integrity and future legacy in the genre.
Meanwhile, ‘Vampire Touchdown’ remains an unproduced script that continues to attract interest but has yet to move into active production stages. The situation poses significant questions regarding originality and the protection of creative works in the film industry, especially for new creators trying to break into Hollywood.
“HIM might have turned off general audiences by being blatantly satanic, or on account of the reviews saying how bad it is.” ?Chris Gore, Film Threat
“Never mind sprinting to the end zone, it can’t even get on the field.” ?Chris Gore, Film Threat
“He liked the mock trailer and would be happy to see the film get made one day.” ?Chris Gore, Film Threat
