September brings the start of football seasons around the country, and on Sept. 19, it also brings the Jordan Peele-produced sports thriller “Him.”
The film follows up-and-coming football star Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) going to train for a shot in the NFL at the mansion of retiring football star Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). This training, however, is intense and incredibly gory as Isaiah – along with almost everyone – layers pressure on Cameron to be the best, and to be “Him.”
Crazy fans, injuries, and a somewhat demonic management team lead to an epic and violent showdown.
This movie works when it lays into the comedy naturally behind a football-themed horror movie. Writer and director Justin Tipping finds the perfect spots for comedic bits, and the audience at a media preview screening loved it. The absurdity of the plot allows for the jokes to not seem out of place, and having a known comedian such as Wayans as a lead helps a lot with this. At every joke, the audience laughed, but it did not take away from the seriousness of the plot. Isaiah’s wife, Elise (Julia Fox), also adds to this humor as she steals the show in the last act of the movie.
“Him” also succeeds in its cinematography, with every scene beautifully shot. There was never a moment when the lighting was off, the editing was wonky, or the scenery was lacking. A party scene filled with strobe lights, flashing colors, and cuts between party rooms left a lasting impression, and the camera tricks did not end there. As the final scene plays out in a colosseum-like football stadium, I was left in awe of the vivid colors, wide shot, and movement of the action.
The movie, unfortunately, ends its successes here. It seems that the writers could not decide on a final direction of the film, leaving viewers confused and lost in different possible messages. It is difficult to tell if the writers wanted the audience to walk away thinking the movie was an allegory for Jesus and the pressure he could have been under; a reference to gladiator fights of Ancient Rome; a denouncing of toxic masculinity and the pressure to perform; or a warning of concussions and CTE that many football players face. No matter the message, however, it ended up just confusing me.
If viewers are fans of football and looking for an absurd, but not bone-chilling thriller, “Him” may be the film for them. The movie definitely holds potential, but after it ends with so many loose ends, it does not really work. “Him” is still a fun watch, but is definitely not the best thriller.
–Sept. 19, 2025–