HIM Is All Style, No Substance
How far are you willing to go to be the Greatest Of All Time? What are you willing to sacrifice? Those are the questions asked in Justin Tipping’s psychological sports horror film HIM.
Rising quarterback Cameron Cade was raised by his late father to do one thing: play football. When he’s attacked by an unhinged fan, he suffers a possibly career-ending injury. Hope comes through in the form of his football hero Isaiah White, the eight-time champion quarterback of the San Antonio Saviors, when he invites Cam to train at his remote compound. But when these training sessions take a dark turn, they may cost Cam more than he bargained for.
HIM kept me on edge, for better or for worse. The visuals are intense and jarring, and the isolated compound it’s set in adds its own layer of horror. Comedy legend Marlon Wayans is impressive in the sinister role of football GOAT Isaiah. He taps into a hyper-masculine mindset that allows him to go to ridiculous and unhinged places. Tyriq Withers delivers a solid showing as Cameron, but it’s really the script that holds his character back. Cam never questions much and just goes along with the absurd and toxic training program, which weakens his arc. Certain plot point that are meant to be meaningful are introduced too late in the film and Cam’s sudden change of heart has no real catalyst.
While HIM succeeds in delivering a trippy and disorienting atmosphere, the rest of the film feels muddled and hollow. There are religious metaphors, stylistic choices, and even hints of supernatural elements that could be compelling, but don’t go far enough to actually say anything. Narrative gaps leave the bloody payoff in the third act feeling abrupt and disjointed rather than chilling. Ultimately, HIM is all style, no substance.
HIM hits theaters on September 19.
