No touchdowns for this horror movie.
Jordan Peele has given himself a name in the horror genre with “Get Out,” “Us,” and “Nope,” and has been able to take on other films as a producer. He’s the producer of the new sports horror movie “Him,” while Justin Tipping (“Nani,” “Kicks”) is the director. Unfortunately, it’s a real disappointment-the kind when you see an interesting concept, but get nothing much in the end.
Tyriq Withers was a wide receiver for the 2017 Florida State Seminoles football team, and his acting credits include “Atlanta” and the recent “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” So, I guess he’s no stranger to sports, surrealism, and horror movies, as he portrays Cameron Cade, a young football player, who has a chance to go pro. He has lived his life through his late father’s motto: “No Guts, No Glory,” and the idolization of the GOAT quarterback Isiah White (Marlon Wayans). And he’s willing to sacrifice a lot by spending a week under Isiah’s influence.
Isiah’s training facility and abode is in the middle of nowhere, outside populated by a cult who doesn’t want Cam to be the next GOAT, and you know there could be trouble when the host has a no cell-phone or any phone call rule. I’m sure there are training camps or facilities that uphold that policy, but given the horror genre, you can tell something is up. But you can already tell something is up by the trailer.
Throughout this movie, Cam is attacked by mascots and crazy people, one of which contribute to his head injury. He even gets injected by the health specialist (Jim Jefferies-the comedian-not the footballer), whose motto is “You’ll Thank Me Later,” and invited to an event by Isiah’s wife (Julia Fox from “Uncut Gems), whose outfit makes her look like a walking and skinny disco ball. And Isiah starts pressuring Cam almost the way JK Simmons pressured Miles Teller in “Whiplash.”
Wayans has taken on the surreal genre before in “Requim for a Dream,” and there are times when I feel like Darren Aronofsky had something to do with “Him,” based on the bizarre moments. But it seems to be more interested in them, than the sinister nature the former quarterback reveals himself to be.
Wither could be a good actor if he’s given the right material, but this year, he’s not convincing us. In “Him,” he ends up being derivative and has to be the guy who has to be silent with all the craziness that goes on, while keeping the ambition to be a star. Think back to how hard Teller banged those drums in “Whiplash,” and you’ll acknowledge the strong ambitions within.
Every once in a while, you get some humor, but not the laugh-out-loud that Lil Rel Howery provided in “Get Out” or Daniel Kaluuya in “Nope.” It doesn’t even have much on the social commentary on society and the entertainment world. If Tipping collaborates with Peele, then he should act like a protege and not a wannabe. A Peele horror movie has to take risks, it has to be nostalgic, and it has to have characters on opposite sides of the coin who are worthy of your time.
The subplot regarding Cam’s head injury threatening to end his career made me think back to “Waves,” when Kelvin Harrison, Jr. played a young wrestler who refused to get an operation but got hurt. His career and morality got destroyed as a result. That movie had its consequences, whereas “Him” likes crazy people, surrealism, and even has a quick “Ready or Not” moment if you look closely at the very end. And it doesn’t handle them very lively.
One of the tagline of this movie says: “Never Meet Your Heroes,” and maybe the big reveal has something to do with hard work and dedication. Something like that could deliver the energy and poetic values of the world of football, but “Him” doesn’t exercise enough.
