Directed by Justin Tipping and Produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, this film led viewers to expect another ‘Get Out’ or ‘Us.’ “Him” makes it mark as one of the first films to utilize sports as horror. The cast includes Tariq Withers, Marlon Wayans and Julia Fox.
The plot follows Cameron Cade, played by Tariq Withers, a rising football player shaped by his father’s rigorous training to become the greatest of all time. He suffers a traumatic brain injury that affects his well–being but refuses to quit the sport. Isaiah White, a legendary quarterback portrayed by Marlon Wayans, whom Cade idolized invites him to his secluded compound for a week of intense training.
The film follows his stay with gothic red title cards signifying the start of Cade’s training with “Day 1 FUN”. As the film progresses, it delves into nonlinear storytelling with the days being out of order and a confusing blend of fiction and reality that can be read as Cade’s lingering effects from the concussion. By the third act, the film has abandoned the parallels of the CTE storyline for a full-fledged blend of cults, blood sharing and devils.
Toxic masculinity is presented in the horrific ways bodies are damaged when it comes to football itself. White is a callous mentor, encouraging violence on the field and rewarding Cade when he knocks a player unconscious. Film negatives are shown during the physical violence that displays the characters’ skeletons fighting. The camera moves in a spinning motion to portray claustrophobia in intense moments along with vibrative music that mimics Cade’s concussion.
The film presents interesting themes about the transfer of power, football as religion with heavy religious iconography and the overseers who sit at the head of the football industry itself. Additionally, the film has some viewers feeling like the many ideas weren’t fully explored and the symbolism is too on the nose. The third act is fast paced and ramps up its absurdism with a climactic bloodbath. Fans of the movie believe it is on par with “Sinners”, which saw higher ratings.
“Him” is a mixed bag, so it is up to the individual whether the film makes a point about the absurdity of football and its culture or lacks the nuance it claims to bring to the conversation. It is worth mentioning that the film had an alternate ending, and several scenes were cut that early screeners believed made the film better.
