I respected it more than I enjoyed it
Him is bold film, that is quite messy, but it’s also very daring, and refuses to be polite.
Plot Summary of Him (Spoiler-Free)
Him is centered on Isaiah White, a superstar quarterback whose presence is larger than life, and Cameron Cane, a promising young athlete destined to follow in his footsteps.
The story jumps between their worlds, focusing on the pressure, the intense training, and the sacrifices demanded in the pursuit of greatness., and blends elements of horror, sports drama, and social commentary, showing the extremes of obsession, competition, and control without staying in a single lane.
Him Review: Is It Worth Watching?
When you start to watch Him, you can tell Justin Tipping isn’t interested in playing it safe, and this is not a movie that will hold your hand.
Scenes will hit you with emotion, intensity, and visual choices that make you feel something before you even fully process what’s happening, and while that can be exciting, it also means you might spend large portions of the film feeling like you’re on a treadmill running at full speed while trying to solve a Rubik’s cube.
Marlon Wayans is the real star here though, and he is brilliant in ways I just didn’t expect – he shows up and completely owns the screen. He’s charismatic, intimidating, and manages to make every scene he’s in feel like the gravity of the room shifts just because he’s there.
The visuals are also, without question, one of the strongest elements of Him, and there are moments that feel warped and almost hallucinatory, paired with Bobby Krlic’s score, which adds a layer of unpredictability and tension to it all.
Scenes in the desert compound, the endless drills, the way shadows fall across Isaiah’s face – these are cinematic choices that will stay in your mind, even when the narrative falters.
And yes, the film has a lot of themes, as it touches on the exploitation of young athletes, the rituals of obsession in sports, the sacrifices demanded in the pursuit of glory, and the psychological costs of ambition, but the issue I had was the film presents these ideas and throws them at you, and then moves on, which is frustrating in some ways because I wanted more than just an observation.
The pacing can be a bit uneven too, and some parts of the middle act feel like they’re dragging while the film figures out exactly where it wants to go next, and there are moments that feel indulgent, but I don’t mind indulgence when it comes with this much energy.
By the time final act comes around, the film hits full throttle, and while the climax is not neat, it’s wild, chaotic, and perfectly in line with everything the movie had been building toward.
Him is definetly quite a messy fillm though, and there are sequences where you might ask yourself if they even planned this scene, or did they just start filming and hope for the best, as some of the narrative beats feel more instinctive rather than fully realized.
Overall though, I have to say I respected the film more than I enjoyed it, I think, as it’s often frustrating, but it’s also unafraid, unpredictable, and visually thrilling.
What I liked (And What I Didn’t Like)
Pros
Marlon Wayans’ Performance
He’s completely owns the screen.
Bold Visual Choices
Warped, hallucinatory shots paired with a strong score make the film a visually striking watch.
Ambitious Storytelling
Mixing horror, sports drama, and social commentary is risky, and while it didn’t always come off, I respect it..
Exploration of Themes
Even if brief, the film highlights sacrifices, obsession, and exploitation in sports and that part was done quite well, it just needed a bit more from it.
Cons
Uneven Pacing
Some middle sections drag and feel like the film is figuring itself out.
Overstuffed Themes
There’s a lot happening, making it hard to fully grasp any one theme, at least on a first time watch.
Frustration
I certainly had more than a few moments being frustrated while watching, and I am sure I am not alone in that.
Some Visual Overload
The hallucinatory style can feel quite exhausting after a while.
Who Might Like Him
- Fans of bold, experimental films
- Viewers who enjoy character driven sports dramas
- People who like psychological intensity
- Those who appreciate visually striking cinematography
- Fans of Marlon Wayans
- People who enjoy horror blended with other genres
- Anyone looking for a movie that challenges expectations
Who Might Dislike Him
- Anyone who prefers traditional, straightforward storytelling
- People who want all themes fully explored
- Those who dislike chaotic pacing
- People who dislike intense, physical drama
- Viewers easily overwhelmed by visuals and sound
- Those expecting a clean, satisfying narrative resolution
Final Verdict: Did I Enjoy Watching Him?
As said, Him is a film I respected more than enjoyed, but I am glad I watched it.
The performances, particularly from Marlon Wayans, are really strong, the visuals are stunning most the time and unpredictable, and the film takes risks that few movies dare to.
It’s messy, imperfect, and quite frustrating at times, but it’s also quite daring.
6.5/10
Him Trailer
Simon Leasher
A lover of cinema for over 35 years, I have watched many films from around the world in many different genres, yet I still normally always come back to trashy slasher horror films when in doubt. More
And yes, The Godfather 2 is better than The Godfather.
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