R/Horror/96 Mins
Directed by: Justin Tipping
Written By: Skip Bronkie & Zach Akers and Justin Tipping
Starring: Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker and Jim Jefferies
Review:
Him plays like a Nike commercial from Hell. It’s an all-out assault on the senses. There’s fast cuts, shiny color grading, and razor-sharp sound design driving the momentum, all to the rhythm of a football being thrown between athletes. However, where a Nike ad would focus on sweat-drenched close-ups, in this case, it’s blood. Also, that football isn’t simply passed from player to player, it passes from hands to a football passing machine smacking into the face of an unlucky athlete. Again and again and again.
Him follows up-and-coming football star Cameron Cade as he’s on the verge of joining the big leagues (the faux NFL, USFF). Unfortunately, the night before his biggest game yet, he suffers a major injury that hinders his entire football career. Right when he’s about to give up, he is invited by league legend/Cade’s childhood idol Isaiah White for a weeklong football camp in hopes of getting drafted by his team, the San Antonio Saviors (210 REPRESENT!). Quickly, it is revealed that this camp and White are not all what they seem and there are more insidious things lurking beneath the surface. Cade is now faced with the dilemma of how far he’s willing to go to reach greatness.
As a visual storyteller, Justin Tipping does a great job immersing the audience member with a stimulating experience. X-ray filtered shots over two players bashing their helmets together and seeing their brains jolt from the impact. A bright or polished color scheme that is an antithesis to the wicked and blood drenched imagery displayed or invasive camera work that gets you in the cleats/helmet of the protagonist. There’s some great visual filmmaker being showcased in this film. Alas — this is one of the few things that stand out in Him.
The other aspect that does work in this film are the excellent performances from Tyriq Withers (Cade) and Marlon Wayans (White). After recently appearing in the I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot, Withers stood out as an actor to watch. He continues his rise to stardom in his first leading role in his commanding and riveting portrayal of Cameron Cade. Wayans is also captivating as the absolutely sinister Isaiah White. Portraying someone like White, Wayans is able to break out of his usual wholly comedic roles and sink his teeth into a more dramatic and darker character. Not to say he doesn’t bring his comedic chops to the picture, his character still has the funniest lines in the film.
This is where my feelings start to get a bit more mixed. Him is a psychological horror film with a good amount of grim humor placed throughout. This is a funnier film than I was expecting. Most of it works, but it did, at times, add some unevenness to the tone.
Adding to this issue also has to do with a muddled and half baked script. This is a great premise and from the first trailer, I was IN. It felt fresh, different and unique. Sometimes, it was just that, but as the film went along, I was waiting for the thing that would piece it all together. Yet, it never happened. I won’t go too much into spoilers, but as I said earlier, there are more insidious things lurking beneath the surface. Nonetheless, the film ONLY scratches the surface of its potential. Him lays out these intriguing ideas and themes and the film never quite reaches those goals. A well shot sports montage or an exquisitely photographed creepy/unnerving sequence can make you feel something but there has to be some depth to support it.
That’s not to say this film isn’t entertaining, I had a pretty good time with Him. Especially with the bloodbath of a finale. Overall, it just felt like there was something sorely missing that kept it from being great. While not a touchdown, Him is still a field goal of a horror film where it gets a few points for trying but it’s not quite winning the game.
Score: 6/10
Him starts sneak previews tonight and in theaters everywhere Friday, September 19th.
