Rating: 1.5/5
Synopsis:
Jordan Peel produces “HIM”, a psychological horror film examining the complexities of being a professional athlete and the fame surrounding it. Cameron Cade is the next great QB, waiting for his shot to go pro. He is invited to train with Isaiah White, a current QB who is widely considered to be the best of all time. But once Cameron arrives at Isaiah’s facilities, he soon realizes that there are some dark secrets behind being the GOAT. Cameron must decide what he is willing to sacrifice if he wants to be the best.
Positives:
The best part about “HIM” is the intriguing premise. Being a former athlete myself, I can commend a film that tackles the difficulties of being great and the sacrifices that come with that pressure. The psychological horror element is also a neat idea, playing upon the mind games that come with the rising stardom and lifestyle. Combining horror elements with the toxic nature of fame is a unique approach that tackles complex issues within the professional sports setting. The film has a sharp visual style, using Cameron’s concussion to play with reality. This allows scary imagery to flash before the audience’s eyes with an unnerving sense of dread. We question what is actually happening and what is simply a vision inside Cameron’s head. The color grading and unique camera angles help immerse audiences into this confusion he is facing. The isolated environment also adds to the dread.
Negatives:
While the idea is intriguing, “HIM” is a total mess. The execution is dreadful, failing to capitalize on the interesting premise. The film has a false sense of cleverness, using its unique style to appear more thoughtful than it is. None of the ideas about fame or sacrifice are explored on a level that elevates the material. It tells audiences how to feel rather than showing us how toxic that environment can be. It also plays with the idea of sports owners using athletes for selfish gain, devaluing them as people. Again, the film does nothing with this idea. There are so many different themes being examined in one film where none of them get the proper care to be explored in a meaningful way. This is a great example of wasting a unique premise with filmmakers who either don’t know how to handle the material properly or simply don’t have the craft to do it yet.
The dreamlike scenes make little sense in the context of the story. They happen so quickly and randomly where the impact is minimal. Plus, there are some downright strange sequences that amount to nothing. My guess is that they were intended to highlight the craziness of the industry while showing Cameron the narcissism that will come with being an athlete of this caliber. None of the characters get much backstory either. It begins with a frantic pace that rushes through material that would have been helpful in establishing Cameron and Isaiah properly. This leads to a lack of connection between them and the audience. Characters in the film appear unlikeable across the board. There is little room to feel sympathy for them other than the fact audiences are essentially told to feel a certain way. Tyriq Withers tries his best with the material he’s given and Marlon Wayans feels miscast. The finale is probably the most interesting part of the film but still struggles to tie everything together. It’s bonkers but surface level. This could have been really impactful if executed properly. Perhaps director Justin Tipping and crew need more practice at fleshing out their stories because this one misses on nearly every level.
Conclusion:
“HIM” is a great example of an interesting idea being handled haphazardly. The execution of the story is amateurish, failing to capitalize on any of the twisted themes it presents. It lacks good character development, attempting to cover up its issues with flashy visuals. The story gets confusing to a point of frustration, failing to examine the struggles of intense competition and the sacrifices one must endure to become the best. I would advise audiences to save their money on this one. Go see a sports movie…or a horror movie. Either or, it has to be better than this one.
