Him Movie Review

“Him” — So like the song says, “Are you ready for some Football?” But it fails to mention the insane lengths that one particular player travels to be the Greatest of All Time, the GOAT. In ancient times, the goat was used for a sacrifice, is it any wonder that a new young player is next up on the alter?

A very young boy is watching with his father on Sunday — tuned into the favorite Football team: San Antonio Saviors. This team has a new quarterback named Isaiah White (played by Marlon Wayans). His final play wins the game, but he suffers a broken leg in the process. Not coming back next year, right?

No way, this Isaiah White must be indestructible. In fact he comes back for the next eight years. And he wins the Championship each time. But by now, the very young boy is out of high school and ready for the big leagues. His name is Cameron Cade (played by Tyriq Withers). Cam is expected to place high in the draft. But one night, he is attacked.

Cam was alone by the high school field after some practice throws. He is distracted and does not see the menacing figure sneak up behind him. He gets knocked out, and has a long scar on his scalp. Medical tests show that his brain has taken a beating, and it could swell up after any direct hit.

But his father lived by these rules: “No pain, No gain” and “No guts, No glory”. Cam is injured but he will get back into the game. Cam gets a phone call from hi major idol: Isaiah White.

White has heard of Cam Cade, and he wants to invite this promising young champion to White’s remote home. It will be a training session for the future QB of the Saviors. That is, if Cam is ready to make the Ultimate Sacrifice.

Cade has a powerhouse agent named Tom (played by Tim Heidecker). Tom knows all the League’s team owners and put in a good word about Cam Cade. Isaiah White is a legend in Football, and he agrees to take Cam under his wing. White’s house is way, way out in the high desert. There are cult-like fans that wait at the main road every day. Cam thinks this might a bit odd.

White’s house is a huge expanse, with most of it built underground. The land around it goes on for miles, with nothing but scrub brush and lizards. White is happy to meet Cam Cade, and tells him that this week is going to be amazing.

Cam also meets the medical advisor named Marco (played by Jim Jefferies). He knows exactly how White has been able to be on top for all these years. The devil is in the details, so to speak…

Cade also meets up with Elsie White (played by Julia Fox). She is married to Isaiah White, but she is an Internet Social Media star all on her own.  Elisie tells Cam to chill out and enjoy it all, because — who knows — maybe he might become the next Saviors Star QB. After all that, she gives Cam a plug. This one is not for a drain pipe.

The next week goes by with each day having a particular focus. But in a quick stripped-down physical, Cam feels somewhat embarrassed. There are passing drills for speed and accuracy. Over on the sidelines, there a fellow who takes in a face-full of high-speed pigskin.  Don’t worry about that, says Isaiah White — sometimes people get hurt if the Quarterback loses his focus.

More drills for blocking and tackling – but with a high degree of brutality. After all says Isaiah White — only way to get your team to win is to crush the opposing team and be cruel. Then out for high-desert runs for hours on end. Cam Cade is exhausted and abused. But the friendly medic Marco is always on the spot with more mystery pills and questionable injections.

For the entire week, Cam Cade has been physically and mentally stressed. He has been seeing things. Things are starting to come apart for Cam. Is he hallucinating from the brain swelling? Are all the weird sights and sounds from the Marco mystery pills? And what exactly is getting injected into his veins? Cam thinks this might a bit odd, or maybe beyond odd.

There are more ice baths, and sauna room sessions, and practice drills. Isaiah White continues to encourage, as well as berate, Cam Cade every time that he can. Says Isaiah White — you need to change your priorities. It is not “Family, God, Football”. You need to change it “Football” — and that’s it. Might be a devilish thing to say, hmmm?

Today is the final day that Cam is scheduled to be with White. This is the make-or-break day. This is the day that Isaiah White brings up the Ultimate Sacrifice. Cam and White are in a locked room. The two will need to face off and only the winner can leave. The champion can go down that tunnel, and out onto that field.

And on that field is the place of destiny. Should Cam Cade go out there, he will be set forever. He will be able to make an unnatural deal, one that would lead to the Ultimate Sacrifice. What type of life would Cam Cade choose — just to be another guy? Or take the deal and become “Him”?

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“Him” is a bizarre conglomeration of ideas and images. Not too many of them work very well together. Is the meaning to raise awareness of dangerous concussions in Football? Is is cause to enlighten on the subject of Toxic Masculinity?  Is it designed to give you insights of too high a regard for Fame of Fortune? Or is it just a sloppy script that leads to more confusion than compassion?

This movie has a psychotic emphasis on quick cuts, extreme close-ups, sequences that look like X-rays, and just other weird artsy stuff. This reminds me of a few of the sequences in “Requiem for a Dream”. The sound editing is effective because it is totally brutal. Every hit and crunch and tackle is heard and comes to life. The photography is well-framed and at times exotic.

In the two main roles, Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers do a great job on getting the ‘bro culture’ factor to show out. Wayans comes close to going a bit over-the-top a few times. But he plays Isaiah White as a loose and likable ‘Star’. Withers seems to be doing nothing more than looking confused, despondent, annoyed and non-reactive. Sometimes all at the same time.

This movie’s premise could actually hold a lot of promise. It is shame that the movie seems to be satisfied with giving up with a series of unforced fumbles. The result is a high-energy, but a very low scoring, game. In the long run — this movie seems content to give itself one big ‘Personal Foul’.

“Him” takes a clever premise and picks up the ball, and then runs 90 yards down the field. But then it fumbles away everything as it gets close to the end zone.