Football mixed with a psychological thriller and horror theme. Our J.P. gives his take on Jordan Peele-produced “HIM,” starring Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers.
HIM
Universal Pictures
- Directed by Justin Tipping
- Written by Skip Bronkie, Zack Akers, Justin Tipping
- Produced by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, Jamal Watson
- Starring Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker
Studio Synopsis:
What would you sacrifice to become the greatest of all time?
From Oscar® winner Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions, producers of the landmark horror films ‘Get Out,” “Us,” “Candyman” and “Nope,” comes a chilling journey into the inner sanctum of fame, idolatry and the pursuit of excellence at any cost, featuring an electrifying dramatic performance from Marlon Wayans (“Air,” “Respect”).
“HIM” stars former college wide-receiver Tyriq Withers (“Atlanta,” the upcoming “I Know What You Did Last Summer”) as Cameron Cade, a rising-star quarterback who has devoted his life, and identity, to football. On the eve of professional football’s annual scouting Combine, Cam is attacked by an unhinged fan and suffers a potentially career-ending brain trauma. Just when all seems lost, Cam receives a lifeline when his hero, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), a legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar, offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife, Elsie White (Julia Fox; “Uncut Gems,” “No Sudden Move”). But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker, sending his protégé down a disorienting rabbit hole that may cost him more than he ever bargained for.
The film features a dynamic supporting cast including alternative comedy legend Tim Heidecker (“First Time Female Director,” “Us”) and Australian comic Jim Jefferies (“The Jim Jefferies Show”), plus MMA heavyweight fighter Maurice Greene and hip hop phenoms Guapdad 4000 and Grammy nominee Tierra Whack, all three in their feature film debuts.
“HIM” is directed by Justin Tipping (“Kicks”) from an acclaimed Black List screenplay by Zack Akers & Skip Bronkie (creators of the sci-fi crime series “Limetown”) and by Justin Tipping. The film is produced by Ian Cooper (“Nope,” “Us”), Jordan Peele (“Candyman,” “BlacKkKlansman”), Win Rosenfeld (“Candyman,” “Lovecraft Country”) and Jamal M. Watson (“Hala,” “Sprinter”) for Monkeypaw Productions and is executive produced by David Kern and Monkeypaw’s Kate Oh.
J.P.’s Take:
They say football is a religion, and in this Jordan Peele-produced semi-horror flick HIM, we find out who the fanatics are and who are the ones willing to sacrifice everything to be the GOAT (Greatest if All Time) within the sport. And, if, like me, you are wondering how a sports movie can be terrifying, then witness this cult-ish, mystery/psycho-thriller … that is one of the most bizarre niche genre films around.
On the surface, “HIM” appears to be a football drama, but as we delve into the early years of a soon-to-be football star, a much eerier account unfolds. Young Cameron Cade (portrayed as a child by Austin Pulliam and as an adult by Tyriq Withers) idolizes superstar quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). He, alongside his father, Cameron Cade Sr. (Don Benjamin), both diehard San Antonio Saviors fans, eagerly watch one of the most pivotal games of White’s career. Setting the stage for what would be Cameron’s most bizarre and defining moments later on is when Isaiah manages to throw the winning touchdown, yet is brutally injured in the process. Brutal as in Isaiah’s shin is broken in two, like a tree branch …. bone through the skin. It’s only one of the gorier scenes so far. Cameron looks away from the graphic image, when his father turns Cameron’s head back towards the TV, telling him, “That’s what a real man does …sacrifice.”
The events that unfold next feel like a surreal fever dream brought on by CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), blurring the lines between what’s real and what’s imagined. As he starts on his path to becoming the next GOAT, like his idol, we watch as he’s regimented by his father, in typical fashion, while he and his father play catch in the backyard. A montage of these moments floats by, with young Cameron shouting “I’M HIM” multiple times, exclaiming he will be the next football great, until we’re presented with the young man who has surpassed his idol. We’re then thrust into the Alice in Wonderland effect, as Cameron is practicing late at night on the field, when a mysterious figure in Samurai Armor appears out of nowhere and whacks him across the head.
Camron is invited to Isaiah White’s home in the middle of nowhere. From the outside, it appears to be an underground compound, which has Cameron spooked. Little does he know, or we viewers for that matter, is that Cameron is in for the wildest and creepiest ride of his life. Cameron starts experiencing weird visions and dreams, like odd people dressed in cult-like costumes appear from dark corridors and backrooms. We’re bombarded by such metaphorical ideologies and visions that become weirder and weirder by the minute, and you start to crack the code after a while. Isaiah even starts to make the point that football is a gladiatorial sport and therefore Camron is pushed into practice like it was a bloodsport. Things spiral further out of control from there, as Cameron is now fighting for his life.
Within the context of this niche psychological thriller / horror, you’re presented with an allegory that goes beyond the sport of football. The imagery and themes reveal the troubling, eerie elements lurking beneath the glitz of fame and its seductive charm. Upon stepping into Isaiah and his wife Elsie’s (Julia Fox) compound, Cameron quickly realizes the heavy price of having sold his soul to the devil. The story also touches on toxic masculinity fueled by the lust for greatness. Christian ideals make their way into the premise also, as Cameron wrestles with his own values vs. Isaiah’s ideologies.
I can see why writer / producer Jordan Peele was attracted to such a project, as he greenlit the screenplay by writers Skip Bronkie, Zack Aker and Justin Tipping, who co-wrote and directed this film. “HIM” is bizarre enough to consider it an attention getter, yet not nearly as scary enough to be a nail-biter. Its bizarreness could either jinx or elevate it to cult status. And although I found Marlon Wayans’s performance admirable, it was also exhausting. Yet, it drove the feature forward in a chilling way. Tyriq Withers’ performance nearly matched the energy of Wayans in certain aspects throughout.
In the end, I ran out of bandwidth to soak up all the nuances, and the outcome left me a bit puzzled. Yet, I got the message, and honestly, I was willing to sit through it until the end of “HIM.” I wouldn’t be surprised if it reached cult status soon.
Official website: HIM
