In theaters on September 19, 2025, through Universal Pictures, HIM plunges a young athlete into a world of terror when he is invited to train with a legendary champion whose charisma slowly curdles into something darker. This Sports Horror film is directed by Justin Tipping, marking his follow-up feature to 2016’s Kicks, which similarly explored sports culture through a tense, character-driven lens. The film stars Tyriq Withers (Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead 2024, I Know What You Did Last Summer 2025) as Cameron Cade, an up-and-coming football star, alongside Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie 2000, White Chicks 2004) as Isaiah White, the eccentric G.O.A.T. of American football. Visually striking and brimming with inventive ideas, HIM ultimately struggles to execute them cohesively, resulting in a film that feels shallow and leaves little for the audience to fully sink their teeth into.
HIM begins with a promising and original premise—Sports Horror is a rare genre, and the idea of turning football into a lens for terror is immediately intriguing. The film treats the game almost like a religion, with rituals, devotion, and near-fanatical admiration, reflecting the cultural obsession Americans have with football. This concept alone offers rich potential for Horror, allowing the story to explore how ambition, hero worship, and competitive pressure can twist into something menacing. However, the script quickly loses focus, attempting to juggle too many ideas around this central theme. Instead of delving deeply into the psychological and cultural stakes, the film spreads itself thin, leaving many of its potentially compelling concepts underdeveloped.
One of the film’s most striking strengths is its inventive cinematography, which frequently transforms ordinary football scenes into moments of genuine unease. Several sequences are shot from the perspective of a player’s helmet, putting the audience directly in the chaos of the field and amplifying the tension of each collision. The film also experiments with X-ray and heat imaging, layering an almost clinical, voyeuristic gaze over the action that underscores the physical and psychological toll of the sport. These visual choices create truly grim and unsettling moments, giving the film a distinctive look that is worth praising.
Wayans delivers a captivating performance in the film, bringing charisma, menace, and unpredictable energy to the role of Isaiah. Even though the script provides little character development or insight into his motivations, Wayans fills the gaps with sheer presence, commanding every scene he’s in and making his eccentricities feel compelling rather than cartoonish. His performance is a highlight of the film, creating a memorable and magnetic antagonist who elevates the material and makes the central conflict feel more intense than the story itself fully supports.
Furthermore, Tyriq Withers is hindered by unnatural dialogue, often delivering lines that feel stiff and forced rather than fluid or believable. Despite this, he shows flashes of talent and vulnerability as Cameron Cade, hinting at the depth the character could have had if the script allowed it. The writing leaves him stranded, struggling to convey the emotional stakes of his descent into terror, which makes it difficult for the audience to fully invest in his journey.
The film really unravels in the third act, feeling rushed and disjointed after spending the previous hour pulling the audience in a dozen different directions. By the time it reaches its climax, there’s little payoff for the tension and mystery that had been building, leaving key character arcs and thematic threads unresolved. The momentum that initially made the premise intriguing collapses, and what could have been a chilling and thought-provoking finale instead feels abrupt and unsatisfying.
While there were some very interesting visuals and a few notable performances, these elements are not enough to overcome the film’s lack of focus and shallow exploration of its themes. HIM brims with ideas and ambition, and Justin Tipping clearly takes a big swing—an effort that’s admirable even if it does not fully land.
By trying to juggle too much at once, HIM ultimately fails to deliver the tension, depth, and payoff that its premise promised. Hopefully, Tipping can refine his approach and deliver something more cohesive and impactful next time. This is why Cryptic Rock gives HIM 2.5 out of 5 stars.
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