Justin Tipping’s HIM Talks Big Game but Ends Up Fumbling the Ball
Image Courtesy of Universal Pictures
By Luis Zonenberg
As October looms on the horizon, I decided to continue ringing in the Halloween season with another horrifying entree. Last week’s The Long Walk certainly hit the spot, and I was eager to see if this week’s film could follow up on such a tough act. With Justin Tipping’s sports horror film HIM attracting Jordan Peele as a producer, I was intrigued to see if this odd combination of genres would yield a thought-provoking thriller reminiscent of last year’s critically acclaimed film, The Substance.
The story focuses on young up-and-coming quarterback Cameron “Cam” Cade (Tyriq Withers) recovering from a brutal head injury that prevents him from participating in the league combine. With his career in jeopardy, Cam is motivated to train alongside the legendary Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), who played quarterback for the San Antonio Saviors. While training at White’s isolated compound, Cam uncovers a huge conspiracy that challenges everything he knows about himself.
The story has a really intriguing premise that blends psychological horror with the sports genre, creating an unusual blend that sounds quite promising. In theory, this should be a recipe for success, but the film’s execution leaves much more to be desired. There are some clever moments that tap into Cam’s psychological frailty, but they are soon washed away in the film’s desire to explore other avenues. It can’t seem to commit to one idea, crowding itself in a sea of preachy morals and blatant symbolism.
The movie seems intent on tackling several noteworthy themes, even at one point remarking how football is the modern-day equivalent of the gladiator games. While this is already an interesting concept to explore, it barely expands beyond that. Instead, it crams in other themes, exploring what sacrifice means, inherited trauma from parental figures, and even blatant nods at how America glorifies violence. Instead of creating a thought-provoking thriller, it leaves the audience confused as to what they should take away from the film, or even what its main point is.
The cast does their best to work with the material, with Marlon Wayans turning in quite the aggressive performance. You instantly buy him as an aging football player, nearing the end of his day, as he hopes to pass off the baton to a future successor. Poor Tyriq Withers gives his all, portraying a laidback football player who yearns to play for his favorite team. You certainly buy into his overall ordeal and devotion to the game, but even he can’t escape the questionable decisions his character makes and fails to make it seem warranted.
The cinematography certainly helped amp up the energy, giving the film a more vibrant and aggressive look. The quick camerawork and landscape shots do well to immerse you in the world, making you feel like you’re taking part in this cinematic journey. The use of colors and shadows certainly pops, allowing the audience to feel uneasy when the more horrifically cerebral moments take center stage.
The editing easily helps to immerse the viewer through the training scenes, giving you a real adrenaline rush. The quick pacing and compact assortment of shots really help you feel like you’re in the moment, training alongside the main characters. Its focus on sound in some scenes even helps create this unsettling feeling, driving forward both the intensity and the violence, but the editing fails to keep up the pace, making the viewer feel more disoriented and confused than I believe was initially intended.
HIM is a textbook example of style over substance, proving that good acting and clever camerawork cannot save a troubled script. Had the film picked one avenue to explore, it would have made for a much better experience that would leave viewers with something clear to consider. Justin Tipping talks big game with his sophomore feature but ends up fumbling the ball with HIM, crafting an experience that will leave audiences more puzzled than intellectually challenged.
HIM is now playing in theaters.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
