HOLLYWOOD—Sometimes there are those movies that you see that you just scratch your head. Sometimes for the right reason and sometimes for the bad. A movie that has people talking and not in the positive manner right now is “HIM.” I was intrigued upon the first trailer because one, Jordan Peele was attached as a producer to the movie, plus it looked like a fun psychological thriller. So, what is “HIM” all about? I would love to answer that question directly, but I’m still scratching my head to figure it out.
What I can tell you it involves a football legend, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans) who takes a rookie, Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) under his wing hoping to transform him into the titan that he is. Cade has always looked up to White as one of the greats in football, considering he has won eight championships aka Super Bowls during his career. In addition, football was his father’s life and pushed his son to follow in those steps.
That is something to consider, that theme of parents sometimes pushing their children to the brink, as they attempt to live their lives through their children because they couldn’t accomplish it themselves.
Cam has returned to his hometown, but after some afterhours practice he is randomly attacked at night by a masked figure leading to a devastating brain injury that jeopardizes his chance at playing professional football. Despite things not looking great, Cam decides to try out for the combine in hopes of getting his foot into the door in the league.
However, he is given an invitation to meet Mr. White at his exclusive compound and train with him. This is where the movie nabbed my attention. I was intrigued by what was unfolding even though I didn’t understand it from a mile away; I couldn’t stop watching what was happening on the screen. Is it strange? In more ways than I can imagine.
Isaiah comes across as a humble, decent person, but the deeper Cam gets inside the compound he discovers his idol is not who he thinks his idol is. Strange things are happening, blood infusions, masked figures, intense workouts and training sessions and bloody violence. The violence is in your face; intense and somewhat shocking at times, and I’m not sure if this was the goal of director Justin Tipping. However, I was all in on the journey he took me on, even though I couldn’t explain what was happening, but I still enjoyed it.
The performances by Wayans and Withers are top-notch. They absolutely command and control the narrative of the movie, and they keep the viewer invested in the mayhem. Without their performances, the movie would be an absolute mess. The ending left me in awe; I couldn’t explain it to you in words if I tried.
If anything, I might need to see the movie again to try to unearth what was unfolding and exactly what the movie and the director is trying to say. “HIM” is a movie that totally plays with your mind. This is no in-between, you either love the movie, or you hated it. Me, I didn’t hate, I didn’t love, but it forced me to scratch my head.
