“HIM,” directed by Justin Tipping, is a new sports horror movie starring Tyriq Withers as Cameron Cade, an up-and-coming quarterback training to be the next G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) of football after a brutal head injury.
Growing up, Cade idolized Isaiah White, played by Marlon Wayans. White is the current quarterback of the San Antonio Saviors; once Cade gets a call that White wants to train him, he immediately accepts.
When Cade goes to White’s isolated compound, he quickly realizes football is more than a game to White. Throughout an extreme and ruthless training regiment, he must figure out what he is willing to sacrifice to become the next Saviors football legend.
With Jordan Peele being a producer on this film, fans of the horror/thriller genre, as well as social commentaries, had high expectations.
In pattern with director and producer history, “HIM” has many points to make on the glorification of sports and public figures as well as obsession with greatness. Additionally, the lead roles were exceptionally done by Withers and Wayans; however, many critics and fans were not impressed.
The film has been critiqued for lack of tension and memorable scenes. Blige Ebiri from New York Magazine and Vulture said, “The movie at times plays like a high-budget student film: It’s eager to impress us with technique. And it does, at least until we realize that there’s not much else going on.”
“HIM” was highly anticipated this year, so it was difficult for the film to reach its prematurely set standard. It is an interesting watch, especially since the sports horror genre is generally new and still growing, but it is not anything groundbreaking.
This film left many fans unsure of the story and the message. Rafer Guzman of Newsday said in his review that “‘HIM’ does not have the Peele touch. What it has is an intriguing premise, but no coherent story and no clear idea of what it wants to say.”
The Jordan Peele association raises the bar for any film; while this movie did disappoint many, it was still decent.
“HIM” is still showing in most theaters.
