Overview and brief synopsis
2025 has been a treasure trove of horror movies for fanatics, overflowing with heavy-hitters such as The Substance and Sinners. Oh, how my little heart sang with overwhelming joy that Jordan Peele, the director of Get Out, was throwing his hat into the ring as the producer of HIM. This news actually gave me something to live for. Starring Marlon Wayans, the newcomer Tyriq Withers, and directed by Justin Tipping, HIM follows a young and promising athlete who gets the opportunity of a lifetime to fulfill his football dream. Under the wing of his legendary mentor, he discovers that all is not what it seems and that darkness lies beneath the surface.
The good, the bad, and the ugly
Despite the overzealous attempts at cerebral horror social commentary, it wasn’t hard to see what this was going for, with themes that touched on toxic masculinity, exploitation of blackness, celebrity, and the unhinged fandom. Without actual impact that sends shockwaves, this film overuses symbolism and known imagery that feels completely obvious. Its placement feels blatant and confusing at times, and thus loses the audience’s attention. Trying to put a real horror spin on football, most of the elements feel forced, making the film’s big climactic revelation fall flat, like the football in Deflategate. With no real meaningful payout that resonates in my bones, it fails to match the energy of other socially conscious horror movies, which was deceptive given the association with Jordan Peele.
Honestly, the creative decisions left me perplexed about the film’s overall direction. However, it’s not necessarily a bad thing since certain movies deserve a second or even third watch. I’m at peace with not understanding every single nuance of a movie. Uncovering the hidden depth adds to a film’s perpetual entertainment, such as 2018’s Hereditary. Yet, this film struggles with its flagrant overuse of symbolic imagery, such as the Last Supper and the Illuminati symbol. But, you shouldn’t have to tear apart a film to understand and know its worth.
real social issues at the heart of the film
Spoilers ahead!
Ageing
This movie invests plenty of effort in giving us indirect clues, but somehow, we still get shameless spoon-fed information. For example, near the end, a character tells us what their machinations were all along: the injuring of our main character, his subsequent isolation, and forcing rituals to designate him as the new G.O.A.T. The problem is that we had seen all of that, so why did they feel the need to spell it out in black and white instead of relying on natural dialogue and images? It was at this point that I was rolling my eyes because it felt so forced. This film is basically The Substance, but for men. Isiah White (Wayans), who is at the top of his career, is essentially being pushed out of the way for the younger Cameron Cade(Withers), continuing the cycle in a longtime tradition.
Exploitation
Although I believe that this film missed the mark, it deserves recognition for its vision. Honestly, I think that some of the themes were interesting and could have been better executed. The film tackles head-on the exploitation of men wanting to sacrifice it all to become successful, but it’s also more of a commentary on the way black athletes are sought after and exploited. Both Cameron and Isiah are black men who find themselves surrounded by all white owners and stakeholders. Essentially, they are just playthings to be manipulated and used for economic gain, whilst only wielding the illusion of free will and opportunity.
Violence
Violence is a common thread that is woven throughout from start to finish. Blood, sweat, and death are present like secondary cast members helping paint the picture that the stakes are high, but the cost for celebrity is even higher. His spot at the top is yet another game of survival, vacillating between life and death. In this world, sacrifices mean nothing in the end, because they will all eventually be discarded and forgotten.
Final thoughts
I think the problem with having too many ideas is that there is no consensus on the direction of the film, and elements get lost, leading to a cinematic flop. I wish that there were fewer distractions, creating an overall stronger movie.
