Film Review: Him

Him
Directed by: Justin Tipping
Monkeypaw Productions, Universal Pictures
Released: 09.19.2025

In a lot of ways, watching Him is the perfect equivalent to watching a promising star athlete fail: both are clearly stretched thin, overcompensating, flashy and frustrating to witness because you know there is so much potential. 

Justin Tipping returns to the big screen after nearly a decade, to co-write and direct Him. The film stars Tyriq Withers (I Know What You Did Last Summer, Atlanta) as Cade Cameron, an up-and-coming young quarterback. Cade has dreams of becoming the next G.O.A.T. He idolizes Saviors star quarterback, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans, White Chicks, Requiem for a Dream) who is rumored to be retiring this year. After Cade is attacked and left with a severe concussion, White invites Cade to train at his desert compound and assess if he is worthy of becoming his successor.  

The film has a lot going for it. The acting is a standout with Withers selling the awe, nervousness and determination of a dedicated athlete finally coming face-to-face with their hero. He gives Cade an air of coolness, which juxtaposes nicely with the character’s anxiety. Still, the more muted reactions he gives leave something to be desired. It is a well-layered performance that feels misdirected towards the end of the film. However, it’s Wayans who commands the screen. His character is meant to embody something aspirational — someone who is so sure of themselves that they don’t care what anyone else thinks or feels, and he sells every minute of it. You can tell he is having the time of his life with this role. Their performances are the true anchor of this film.

It’s visual direction is also strong with a clear sense of style in the cinematography and editing. The limited color palette of red, white and black adds to the film, giving it a sense of uniformity throughout. The use X-ray visuals were an inspired choice, since images of concussions and broken bones have become synonymous with sports injuries. It creates a visual throughline to the themes of sacrifice that this movie loves to harp on about. As for the soundtrack, there are some great songs throughout and they are used effectively for montages and heightening disturbing moments. The sound design adds to the uneasy and chaotic atmosphere the film tries to create.

While completely unsubtle, the use of religious iconography is striking. It helps to tie up some of the themes the film presents. The idea of an underground training dome is the perfect metaphor for Hell and the title cards that give each day a distinct spiritual name creates a connection between the film and the circles of Hell in Dante’s Inferno. 

My problem with the film is that it simultaneously feels overstuffed and lacking. The world of sports fandom is a fascinating thing to dive into. Its contributions to toxic masculinity, idolization and even looking at its importance in marginalized communities are all ripe for analysis. It is a world with so much to discuss, like the predatory nature of the owners and the sacrifices that are asked of the players. It feels like a disservice to talk about all these ideas in such broad strokes. We can tell that White is supposed to reflect the treatment Cade faced from his father. This macho myth his father tried to turn him into, but was never able to accomplish himself. Every time the film broaches these topics beyond the surface level, it pivots into another flashy montage or half-hearted attempt of a scare, almost aimlessly trying to strike gold.

The horror elements also feel underutilized. In some cases minimal scares can add to the atmosphere and heighten the moments they do happen, but with Him they almost feel tacked on. It also doesn’t help that Him is following a trend that has become all too popular in horror; a celebrity with a huge ego having a cult-like following. If this had come out earlier maybe the idea would seem more novel, but as of now it is just another one to add to the list under The Menu and Opus. It feels like there was a chance to explore something truly interesting and yet, they chose to present it in the most generic way possible. It only makes thing more frustrating because there are good ideas here, but they just are not executed well. At the end of the day, it feels hollow and anti-climactic.

Him definitely has a lot to say, but fumbles the ball when passing it to the audience. There is a clear vision here that needed more time to develop and more thought to seamlessly thread all the themes together. Instead, it crumbles under the pressure of its own promise. Still, I believe that those involved with the sports realm and the culture of sports fandom will get a lot more out of this film than I did and maybe that is a touchdown in it’s own right. —Angela Garcia

Read more film reviews here:
Film Review: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle
Film Review: The Baltimorons