Paired with football fanaticism, the inevitability of aging and religious metaphors, “Him” is a nightmarish commentary on the toxic masculinity present within the sports world that places pressure on male players to strive to be the “chosen one.”
In Justin Tipping’s psychological horror, Cameron Cade, played by Tyriq Withers, is set to seal his fate in football fame until he is attacked by a crazed fan, thrusting him into an uncertain future hindered by his head trauma. In the midst of his grief over the looming end of his quarterback career, he receives a call that the San Antonio Saviors quarterback Isaiah White wishes to train with him in his remote compound.
The film opens with a scene all too familiar to LSU Tiger fans: a family in their living room yelling at the television screen for their favorite team’s victory. In the center of the passionate cries for glory sits Cade as a child, excitedly watching White bring the Saviors’ victory home.
The obsession over football culture leans heavily on the neurotic behaviors of characters in the film, like when Cade is attacked by a fan who is exclusively loyal to White. The football obsession is proven even more so in the natural competitiveness among men to be the best of the best.
“Scary Movie” star Marlon Wayans portrays White cleanly in his reluctance to pass down the mantle to a younger, more suited player on the field. His performance highlights the anger and jealousy within the theme of older versus younger. As “The Substance” depicted the female experience in being pushed aside due to age, “Him” depicts the masculine side of this dilemma through football.
While Wayans’ performance leans into the aging theme, Withers’ performance as Cade zones in on the pressure that is placed on him to be the best in the league, or as described in the film, the G.O.A.T. His looks of distress and awkward demeanor strip the character raw of his supposed confidence; instead, it conveys the underlying weight on his shoulders.
With the repetition of his late father’s saying of ‘no guts, no glory,’ and his desire for a family of his own, Cade’s characterization is based on the notion of family meaning everything. His motivation in not letting his father down, coupled with the possibility of his injury restraining his talent forever, posits the view that he is only in a cycle of toxic masculinity.
Metaphorically, the cycle is also shown with the transfer of White’s blood to Cade, where it is eventually revealed that the blood is passed down from previous quarterback to quarterback. This cycle of aggression and blood is fitting for the sport that is notoriously known for men running straight into one another.
Amidst the depictions of violence and gore, there is some humor packed into the horror flick. In describing Cade as ‘him’, his brother jokingly comments how he is ‘Him-othee Chalamet’ or even, ‘Him Kardashian.’ The concept of saying ‘I’m him’ has been a common phrase in internet slang, typically meaning you’re ‘the best.’
There are numerous religious metaphors scattered throughout the film, such as the obvious being the team name as the Saviors. There are also many mentions of the concept of the chosen one; however, the implications of a Satanic ritual at play contradict the notion of a savior; rather, he is representative of the opposite.
The main themes, along with their corresponding metaphors, hold up strongly. Although,my main critique of the motion picture is that it tends to be too on the nose visually.
In the final act, it is revealed how Cade was chosen when he was a child to be the successor of White, as shown in a photograph including him, his father and the owner of the San Antonio Saviors. Yet, in the same scene, his agent states, as if speaking to the audience, how they had “groomed him” from an early age.
This critique falls under the umbrella of telling, instead of simply showing the viewers an important piece of information. This artistic choice treats the audience members as if they have not been paying attention to the movie at all. It is best to show, not to tell.
However, the visuals of skeletal X-rays and infrared vision shown in various scenes are not ones I have seen before. They worked well with the storyline and contributed to the brutality of football in a horror-themed way.
The film maintains a stable baseline for the commentary on football’s culture, but the marketing is also where the team behind the film slipped up. Attaching Jordan Peele’s credit as a producer for the film would only lead people to believe it is a Peele film, such as the likes of “Get Out” and “Us.”
Contrary to the belief people will go into when watching this film, it is a movie directed by Tipping. That is not to say one director is better than the other, but rather to set the correct expectations for the intended filmmaker.
The movie premiered across theaters nationwide Sept. 18, so there is plenty of time to buy your ticket and a bucket of popcorn. I believe any Tiger fan will understand the craziness embedded in the film, whether you’re a typical horror fan or not.
