PHOENIX (AZFamily) — No guts, no glory.
Synopsis
HIM follows up-and-coming professional football star Cameron ‘Cam’ Cade (Tyriq Withers), who suffers an assault from an obsessed fan that causes a brain injury. To keep his career going, he visits the training camp of legendary quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), who also suffered a grave injury during his career. During his grueling training sessions, Cam endures physical and mental abuse at the hands of Isaiah, but isn’t that all part of the game when your dream is to be “the GOAT”?
My thoughts
Originally titled GOAT (which I think was a much better title), HIM was originally penned by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, which Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions acquired after it picked up some buzz. Justin Tipping came on to direct and rewrite the script, changing quite a bit while keeping the same goal intact: making a psychological horror film focused on the world of professional sports.
Notably, HIM marks the first genuine foray into sports horror, a surprising revelation when you consider the popularity of both genres. While there are sports-themed horror films, they often lean towards the juvenile (think high school). This film flips that script, offering a look at the psychological depths professional athletes navigate, adding an unexpected layer to both horror and sports narratives.
Get your head in the game
When it comes to choosing a sport to center a horror film around, football might be the most sensible option. As the most popular sport in the U.S., it creates an immediate connection between audiences and characters. The fierce obsession with “GOATs” (Greatest of All Time) in football provides fertile ground for exploring how fame and pressure can affect mental health, especially with the physical toll of the game.
Tipping’s direction immerses you in the psyche of a professional football player, vividly portraying the sacrifices made to chase greatness. His creatively haunting imagery—using X-ray and infrared cinematography—magnifies the story’s tension. It effectively highlights the mental and physical breakdown of Cade, leaving viewers to ponder the hidden toll of success.
Visually, HIM stands as one of the most striking films of the year. With Tipping’s keen eye and Kira Kelly‘s cinematography, the movie is filled with stunning compositions. Tension builds subtly, using shadows and silence to keep viewers on edge as we wait for something to creep into the frame.
Sacking the QB
However, while the visual storytelling is undeniably impressive, the narrative falters slightly. Some might attribute this to the merging of Akers and Bronkie’s original script with Tipping’s artistic vision. Throughout the film, it feels like the themes and motivations get a bit lost amid the compelling visuals. Cade’s arduous journey toward becoming the GOAT could have been explored more, perhaps through a full season arc rather than a concentrated training camp experience.
What unfolds instead is a tightly controlled descent into madness at Isaiah’s camp, echoing other films where protagonists enter into toxic environments led by wealthy manipulators. While it touches on deeper themes of ambition and obsession, the takeaway could have been more profound with broader exploration of Cade’s character and motivations.
The conclusion also feels stretched out, evolving into clichéd territory that, despite retaining some entertainment value, muddles the previously taut narrative. It introduces twists that feel disjointed, as if the filmmakers were grasping for a dramatic conclusion that didn’t harmonize with the preceding build-up.
Performances from Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans provide the solid foundation upon which the film stands. Wayans’s portrayal of Isaiah is particularly noteworthy as he adeptly flips between charm and menace. He’s both entertaining and chilling, injecting humor even in darker moments, which enhances the horror’s effectiveness. Withers delivers a compelling performance, conveying a wide emotional range with minimal dialogue, effectively portraying Cade’s mental unraveling.
Final thoughts
HIM emerges as a fascinating exploration of an athlete’s psyche, steeped in psychological horror. You don’t need to be a sports enthusiast to appreciate the film’s unique take on ambition and madness. With moments that are undeniably creepy yet not overwhelmingly scary, it invites viewers into the complex world of aspiring greatness without alienating those less familiar with sports culture.
While the film might not strike every viewer as groundbreaking, it offers flashes of brilliance and an intriguing premise that will leave audiences curious to see how it unfolds in the future—a reflection on both the pursuit of greatness and the hidden demons lurking beneath the surface.
HIM is currently playing in theaters nationwide.