Aaron Ploof
As I’ve said in my review for F1, I’m not particularly into sports or sports movies. However, couple that with a psychological horror bent, and you have my interest. I went to Him expecting a movie of low quality; the RT score currently sits at 31%. However, after viewing the film and talking with my father, who’s more heavily into football then I am, I’ve come to the conclusion that this a rather solid entry in the horror genre. Although it lost me a bit in the second half of the story, the movie has excellent performances by both Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers and features enough hallucinatory imagery to entrance the most experienced moviegoer/sports fanatic.
Under Pressure
Him is all about the need and drive for excellence, primarily as a consequence of the pressure one feels from family, fans, and higher-ups. Its protagonist, Cameron “Cam” Cade (Tyriq Withers), has felt that pressure ever since he was a child. His father relentlessly pounded the need for excellence into his son, especially when it came to football. The movie opens with Cam as a child, sitting and staring at the TV, rooting for the Saviors. But Cam doesn’t seem as taken in by the spectacle as his father, who dresses his son up in a football uniform. When Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans) critically injures himself on the field, he forces young Cam to watch. He repeats in his son’s ears, “That’s what real mean do. They sacrifice everything to win. No guts, no glory.”
Years pass, and Cam has climbed the ranks in football stardom to the point where he is poised to take Isiah’s spot as the G.O.A.T. Yet, there is a major problem; Cam has suffered a head injury that makes playing football potentially more unsafe than it already admittedly is. Cam can’t make the scouting combine and drops out.
Another Chance
Soon afterwards, Cam’s agent, Tom (Tim Heidecker) informs him he has a second chance. Isaiah himself has called to invite him to his compound for a week of intense training. If he proves himself, he’ll be able to take Isaiah’s place after his retirement.
Cam accepts the invitation, but from the moment he arrives on site, something is off. Rabid fans of Isiah’s are giving him death threats. And while Isiah himself seems charming, there seems to be something lurking under his friendly veneer. As the week passes by, more disturbing trials take place, and Isaiah’s plan for Cam is unveiled. In order to be the greatest of all time, what will Cam truly be willing to sacrifice?
Set, Hut!
The film is intriguing right from the get-go and builds tension skillfully. It hits the ground running with a fast and intense pace. I was emotionally invested in the first few minutes. It’s easy to relate to a character who dreams of making it big, even if pressures to do so are mostly external. After Cam’s pivotal head injury, his hallucinations are fantastical enough to be questioned, but leave an impression on Cam that may signal their reality.
His stay at the compound is chronicled day by day, with each day being given a title of a different aspect of football. Many of these include a critique of how the ones in charge treat their players like cattle and use guilt to manipulate/condition them. Most of these weren’t readily apparent to me, but that’s simply because I’m not a football fan. After talking to my father, who played football when he was younger and would probably have gone on to play professionally, these critiques became more apparent. All of these critiques point towards the ultimate tragedy: is the cost of success the loss of one’s soul?
A Few Fumbles
Unfortunately, the film isn’t able to keep the ball in hand throughout the entire runtime. There are a few fumbles narratively speaking, and the film loses its footing near the second half of the story. The pace slows, and it doesn’t feel as if we’re progressing towards anything important. However, when the reveal does come, it’s easy to look back and see the setup.
What salvages the film from being merely average is Marlon Wayans’ performance. He manages to mix charm with menace in a way that kept me always guessing at his character’s motivation. In that way, he remains an enigma throughout most of the film, and that makes for an excellent villain.
Tyriq Withers brings the right amount of eagerness and innocence to the role of Cam but also can capture the times at which his character turns fierce. As he goes through day by day, his confusion and bewilderment at his situation are expertly portrayed.
The other actors don’t leave much of an impression, but they’re adequate so as not to stick out as untalented.
Touchdown!!
The ending of the film is unexpected, but it takes all that came before and turns it up to eleven. By taking the many unpleasant truths of football and “blowing them up” in ways that are larger than life, the movie manages to make clear just how terrible some of these practices are. Especially by the end, the movie doesn’t critique in subtle ways.
With great performances from Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers, and an excellent criticism of American professional football, Him is worth seeing for these points alone. What lets it down is its tendency to be narratively shaky and some pacing issues in the latter half. For these small but noteworthy fumbles, I’ll give Him a score of
Score: 7.5/10
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