HIM

For many Americans, football is life, and for Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers), this has never been more true. An up-and-coming quarterback with a destiny to potentially be the greatest there ever was, Cameron has the world at his feet until one day he suffers a traumatic head injury that results in him missing the draft combine. Desperate for one more opportunity to make it to the big leagues, his prayers are answered by the legendary footballer Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), who invites him to train with him for a week. However, as the training intensifies beyond reason, Cameron finds his mind and body begin to fall apart as the world around him grows darker and more sinister.

First things first, while Jordan Peele’s name is being used to promote this movie, HIM is actually the brainchild of writers Skip Bronkie, Zack Akers and Justin Tipping, brought to life by the latter as director and with the backing of Peele’s production company Monkey Paw. The premise is unique, like many of his films, but it is 100% not a Jordan Peele movie.

In this American Football thriller, “no guts no glory” and a whole lot of sacrifice seem to be the key themes, and as the movie breaks itself into chapters with each passing day, Cameron and the viewer learn it the hard way. Wayans is absolutely fantastic as the veteran mentor, Isaiah. He is delightfully vindictive and keeps you guessing his intent all the way through his performance. It is a joy to see renowned comedic actors put on their serious hat once in a while, and yet again, Wayans proves he has something special in his locker. But aside from his co-star Tyriq Withers, Wayans really is the only shining light in the film. 

The movie does look great courtesy of cinematographer Kira Kelly, and the visuals really draw you into the action, with abstract fever dreams providing the perfect playground for the editors and special effects team to have fun, but the problem is, the entirety of HIM feels like a fever dream. It is as if the creatives behind the movie were given 95% of the power, and the writing was a last-minute addition. What is HIM trying to tell us? What message is it trying to deliver? The answer to those questions is nothing, and any kind of twist is established only in the closing seconds of the movie. There is very little substance to the film’s narrative, despite so much happening all at once, and while it is even humorous at times, it just seems disorganised and silly.

You are thrilled at times, and the intensity of the chaos unfolding keeps your eyes fixed to the screen, but once HIM finally reaches its climax, you can’t help but be left disappointed at how everything else about this satanic movie was fumbled. The idea is excellent and has so much potential, but the execution is all wrong.