Him

This psychological horror works as both a surreal, tense, character-driven thriller, and as a darkly comic allegorical satire of the commoditisation of professional sports.  Second-time director Justin Tipping has crafted an inventive and original horror film, anchored by an impressive central performance from Marlon Wayans.

Premise:  Up-and-coming quarterback Cam Cade (Tyriq Withers) is on the verge of breaking out as the next big American Football superstar, before he suffers an unexpected set back.  When all seems lost, his idol – legendary quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans) – invites Cam to train with him to prove that he has what it takes to become a worthy successor to Isaiah’s legacy.  But Isaiah’s methods cause Cam to question if he truly has the ruthless drive it takes to become the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time).

Review:

I have to say up front that I am a big fan of American Football, so I was (a) familiar with a lot of the terminology and concepts mentioned in Him, and (b) arguably predisposed to find the subject matter intriguing.  But I honestly think that the appeal of Him reaches beyond just American Football fans, as it has something to offer traditional horror fans and fans of elevated/allegorical horror, as well as audiences that are interested in the psychology of professional athletes and their exploitation at the hands of those willing to make money off their blood and toil.

Him is the type of film that can either be enjoyed on the surface level (it is a genuinely tense and unpredictable, character-driven psychological horror), or you can spend time endlessly debating its different allegorical layers, which touch on everything from religion, exploitation and self-sacrifice, to parental trauma, obsession and whether it’s possible to become an elite professional athlete without embracing the brand of toxic machismo that is often seen as the key to unlocking the single-minded drive to succeed at all costs.

“…Marlon Wayans really sinks his teeth into this dramatic role…”

Tyriq Withers (who I hadn’t seen in anything before this) is great as the up-and-coming sports star on the verge of breaking out, and he balances the many internal contradictions bubbling under the surface of Cam Cade.  He says he’s willing to sacrifice anything for success – but does he really mean that?  He says he’s doing it for his family and to make his father (who trained him before he passed away) proud – but how far can he go on external motivation alone?  How badly does he really want to be ‘Him’ (modern slang for ‘the best) or even the ‘G.O.A.T.’ (aka the ‘Greatest Of All Time’)?

If Tyriq Withers is the grounded, audience surrogate in the eye of the storm, then Marlon Wayans is the hurricane itself.  Isaiah White gives Marlon Wayans the opportunity to really sink his teeth into a dramatic role, reminding audiences that he can be a great dramatic actor as well as a comedian.  Marlon Wayans’ portrayal of Isaiah White is still run through with dark humour – as the film itself is – but he’s able to walk the line between parody and horror, switching between the charismatic leader on the sports field and the frighteningly intense mentor striving to push his protégé further than he’s even pushed himself before.

“…director Justin Tipping delivers some genuinely disorientating & hallucinatory imagery…”

Although the film is focused on the central relationship between Cam and Isaiah, Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans are ably assisted by Tim Heidecker as Cam’s agent, and Julia Fox and Jim Jefferies as Isaiah’s influencer wife and cynical personal doctor.  All three bring some much needed dark humour and levity to key scenes, which stops the film from becoming one note.  In fact, second-time director Justin Tipping deserves a lot of credit for balancing the shifting tones of the film, while also providing some genuinely disorientating and hallucinatory imagery that adds to the surreal quality of the film, which often feels like a waking nightmare (in a good way).

Him keeps its cards close to its chest in terms of whether this is just a psychological thriller, or whether there’s something more going on, with the combination of concussions, drugs and alcohol making Cam an unreliable narrator in places.  I’m obviously not going to spoil the film’s mysteries here – but I will say that the film plays throughout with religious, pagan and supernatural iconography, and also toys with the American saying “God, family, football” as being the order of priorities in life.

“…a pulpy psychological horror that still has a lot to say about a whole heap of ideas…”

This film won’t be for everyone – it’s stylised and surreal, with everything dialled up to eleven – but Tyriq Withers’ understated performance, Marlon Wayans go-for-broke commitment to his role, and Justin Tipping’s sports-advert-on-acid trippy direction all combine to make this a pulpy psychological horror that still has a lot to say about fame, male insecurity, ambition, race, power and a whole heap of other ideas.  Him might not be the G.O.A.T., but it’s a reminder of how great Marlon Wayans can be in a dramatic role, and it’s a calling card for Tyriq Withers and Justin Tipping as talents to watch out for in the future.