Blu-ray Review – Him (2025)

      Him, 2025.

      Directed by Justin Tipping.

      Featuring Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Jim Jefferies, Heather Lynn Harris, Tim Heidecker.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Invited to train at the compound of a renowned football player, a rising athlete uncovers the dark truth behind the team's triumphs. Justin Tipping’s Him explores a concept reminiscent of The Substance, trading the pursuit of eternal youth for striving to excel in sports beyond one's limits.

      The athlete in focus is Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), a quarterback for the San Antonio Saviors. As a child, Cameron "Cam" Cade witnesses White suffer a severe injury that would typically have led to retirement for any other player. However, White quickly recovers and continues to shatter records. Fast-forwarding 14 years, Cam (Tyriq Withers) is now an emerging talent while speculation looms regarding White's potential retirement at the season's end.

      With an important game approaching, Cam sustains a head injury that might force an early retirement. However, after accepting White's offer to train at his isolated desert compound for a week, Cam realizes there might be more to White’s continued success than mere dedication and training. Is he prepared to make sacrifices for success and sign on the dotted line?

      Him offers a twist on the Faustian tale of 'be careful what you wish for.' It presents a story with great potential but fails to fully realize it due to odd choices that suggest deeper themes without delivering fully on them. Marlon Wayans shines as Isaiah White, portraying a mentor nearing the end of his career, oscillating between profound wisdom and harsh discipline. Despite his strong performance, Wayans never fully embraces the intensity of a character like Al Pacino, which the film may have benefited from, as it struggles to find its rhythm and impact, failing to reach a climactic intensity akin to The Devil’s Advocate, just with athletes instead of lawyers.

      While Wayans attempts to elevate the overall quality, the rest of the cast seems to be on a different wavelength. Characters such as Cam’s agent Tom (Tim Heidecker) fit better in a different film, as he embodies a parody of the sports agent trope with a certain exaggerated charm. Conversely, Tyriq Withers’ portrayal of Cam lacks the ambition and energy expected of an aspiring football star, making White’s consistent belittlement of him seem more credible, though Withers appears to be going through the motions in many scenes.

      The primary flaw in Him lies with its script, produced by Jordan Peele, which suggests an exploration of social and racial metaphors. However, it often overloads the narrative with these themes, detracting from the story's flow as it prioritizes delivering messages. This film marks the debut credit for writers Skip Bronkie and Zack Akers, hailing from podcasting, and despite Justin Tipping’s involvement, the various elements and themes never congeal into a unified storyline. The plot addresses numerous topics like athlete pressures, the corruption surrounding sports, religion, race, family, money, success, and social media, encapsulated by Julia Fox's portrayal of Elsie White, Isaiah’s influencer wife, whose name and appearance allude to themes that remain unaddressed in dialogue.

      The film’s conclusion, where Him finally finds its footing, feels a bit late. The racial undertones come to the forefront, depicting the San Antonio Saviors' board as greedy middle-aged white men. The surreal imagery present throughout, manifesting through hallucinations, reaches a peak reminiscent of the final moments in Rob Zombie’s Lords of Salem (without the scandalous priests, though that might have added depth). The culmination of hints and suggestions becomes vividly apparent. While visually captivating and featuring stylistic splatter, this section does not align perfectly with the preceding tone. If the entire film had maintained this approach without being scattered and overwhelmed by extraneous plot points, focusing instead on Cam's moral conflict for success, Him could have scored significantly higher.

      In summary, Him is an enjoyable film with clear intentions, yet the disorganized script fails to do justice to the material. It relies on stunning visuals and a few standout performances to keep it afloat. The presence of Jordan Peele's name may enhance its appeal – his influence is evident – but it is unlikely that Him will achieve the same acclaim as his other works.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Chris Ward