Liputan6.com, Jakarta The psychological sports horror film "Him" is set to hit the big screen in September 2025, presenting a gripping tale of ambition and sacrifice in the world of professional football.
Directed by Justin Tipping, the film explores the dark side of fame and the extreme pressures athletes face.
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With Jordan Peele as one of the producers, expectations for "Him" are high.
Starring Marlon Wayans as Isaiah White, a legendary quarterback, and Tyriq Withers as Cameron Cade, a promising young player.
Universal Pictures will release "Him" globally, starting in the United States on September 19, 2025.
With a running time of 96 minutes, "Him" has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association for strong bloody violence, strong language, sexual content, nudity, and drug use.
Audiences in Australia can watch "Him" starting October 2, followed by the UK on October 3, 2025.
Him: The Dark Story Behind the Green Field
The film "Him" centers on Cameron Cade, a talented young football player who is invited to train at the remote compound of legendary quarterback Isaiah White.
Isaiah, nicknamed the "GOAT," or Greatest of All Time, takes Cameron on a harrowing journey.
This journey introduces Cameron to a world of fame, power, and the boundless pursuit of excellence.
The screenplay for "Him," written by Justin Tipping with Skip Bronkie and Zack Akers, explores the weighty themes surrounding the sacrifices athletes face.
This premise offers a dark and satirical perspective on the often obsessive culture of American football.
Through this narrative, "Him" attempts to critique the pressure placed on athletes to always be the best.
Marlon Wayans and the Power of Acting in Him
One of the most striking aspects of "Him" is Marlon Wayans' performance as Isaiah White.
Many critics praised his performance as "excellent" and "frightening," conveying incredible intensity and suspense.
Wayans successfully portrays a character who starts out friendly but gradually transforms into a much more sinister figure, captivating the audience with his transformation.
Some reviews even compared Wayans' performance in "Him" to Daniel Day-Lewis's performance as Bill the Butcher.
Marlon Wayans' performance feels like he belongs in a better film, perfectly fitting the tension and intensity that "Him" aims to convey.
Critics agree that Wayans is the only consistent source of suspense in this psychological sports horror.
The Visual Style and Atmosphere of 'Him'
"Him" features stylish and bizarre visual moments, with imagery that is both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
The use of vast desert landscapes, stark modernist structures, and ritualistic fields creates a unique and gripping atmosphere.
Director Justin Tipping has been praised for his ability to create nightmarish imagery, working closely with cinematographer Kira Kelly and editor Taylor Joy Mason.
The film often operates under the logic of dreams, presenting unconventional visuals to reinforce its psychological narrative.
One of the most striking visual techniques in "Him" is the use of X-ray effects.
They help construct a world that feels unreal and oppressive, supporting the themes of sacrifice and obsession.
Criticism of the 'Him' Movie
Despite its strong premise, the screenplay of "Him" has been widely criticized for being "cluttered," "incoherent," and lacking thematic ambition."
Rotten Tomatoes gives 'Him' movie 30% Tomatometer from 80 reviews so far and 50% Popcornmeter from 100+ verified ratings.
"“Him” knows that it’s silly as hell, but it has no idea how to balance that against the ostensible seriousness of its social critique, which is how you wind up with leaden dialogue sandwiched between moments of broad satire," one reviewer from Rotten Tomatoes said about the movie.
Moreover, IGN gives this movie 4/10 rating which classified as 'Bad.'
"You don’t need to know American football — or much of anything — to watch Justin Tipping’s Him, a disappointingly scattered attempt at social horror," IGN says.
The film also said to be struggled to maintain its tone, torn between being a creepy thriller and a psychological horror.
The horror aspects of "Him" are underutilized, rarely reaching a truly terrifying level despite numerous attempts.
Cameron Cade, played by Tyriq Withers, was also criticized for being too passive and lacking in curiosity.
"Him" was also deemed too didactic and repetitive in its message about quarterback hero worship, making the narrative feel stagnant.