HIM(2025) Movie Review
They say never meet your idols. This couldn’t be more true.
HIM is a thriller about Football ( United States Version, of course ), of a young and upcoming college football player making it big. Once he gets the chance of being mentored by his idol , he finds out. That his childhood dream is more of a nightmare.
The movie is produced by Jordan Peele, Production Company’s Monkeypaw Productions. His hand was definitely noticeable in the styling and vibe of the movie.Directed and screenplay by Dear White People and The Chi Justin Tripping. Kyla Kelly does a fantastic with the cinematography. Every shot was wonderfully done gving suspense and close-ups with easter eggs. for whats to come.
SPOILER ALERT: READ WITH CAUTION
As we start the film, we are taken back to the early 2000s. We are in the living room with a young Cam. He sits in front of the TV screen. He marvels and oos and ahhs at the screen. A Super Bowl is currently happening. His family watches, alongside his father, mother, and other family members. His father is a huge fan of the game. As he screams at the screen, we are shown the first glimspe of Isaiah White, In his glory days.
Flash forward to the present day. Cam’s father has passed away. His mother accompanies him to a press conference about a football deal. Over the years, it is revealed that Cameron has made it a life mission to be just like his idol, Isaiah White. Decades of practice may finally pay off as he is given an opportunity to follow in his footsteps.
One night, a mysterious figure in a Bull Mascot Costume(Keep this in your mind) , attacks Cam on the back of his head. He sustains a very serious “concussion” . This is obviously CTE. The more you watch the movie.
The next day, he is supposed to be speaking at a football press conference about his decision. His brain injury is causing him to freak out and pressure on him. The background noise of his best friend, mother, girlfriend, his phone, an agent (jeez … I don’t have a brain injury and I got super overstimulated just watching it) . His mother tells him to step away and rest. His manager speaks for him. Feeling defeated, he attends a party. At the Party, he is out of it.
He tells the others like his friend to lay off. He receives a call from his agent that he is given a second chance at being the successor of Isaiah White and an invitation to be mentored and coached by the famous player over a week. Elated he agrees.
In the next scene, we see him traveling up to the practice commune way in the desert, which looks like California or Nevada. In the black Escalade or Tahoe ( I could not tell lol) , Cam looks over and is frightened when a crazed fan slams into his window while they pass a group of tailgaters.
Later, he is acquainted with Elise ( Julia Fox) , a model, influencer and most importantly, Isaiah’s wife. As she shows him around the commune. He gets a warm greeting from his idol, Isiash .
Most of the movie Isaiah trains him in his commune. The movie is sectioned by each day Cam is at the traning camp. At first the different activities are very army bootup. Isisah is a very much a drill sergeant.
There is one scene, I feel that Cam finally realizes this is not a normal boot camp. In this very memorable scene , Isisah brings in a few more football scholars to train. Part of this exercise they are throwing the ball across the field. Cam was not nailing every hit , as rather a consequence, every hit he misses, a player gets smashed in the face by the ball. Yes every time Cam missed the catch , a player gets smashed in the face with the addition of Isisah yelling at him for added pressure. We see the player repeatedly smashed his face with the ball. Once its over, we get a look at the bruised and mulated face…
Throughout the training, Cam has delusions (seemingly) of that bull mascot. His head still trying to heal from his concussion. He often roams the conumme with delusions of the mascot, creeping up on him. which could be another clue to his CTE or just how demonic the world of entertainment and sports could be .
Marlon Wayans performance as Isaiah is one of his most dramatic and strongest roles he has played. Quite a tone shift for sure. He did a great job of playing a person who has given up a lot of his life for the game of fame and fortune. The desperation of clinging on to something that you used to be. This can be applied to lots of ways even in us common folk. We used to be something we were once praised for. Hell I miss being 115 pounds and having a great body when I was younger. I still miss it. (sigh)
Julia Fox’s performance was something I had very little knowledge about. Other than the fashion stuff, being Kanye West’s girlfriend and her social media presence. I didn’t know her acting abilities. She was ot very convincing of that “evil”. At the beginning, she is very welcoming towards Cam.She adopts a mother hen persona towards Cam. I will say she has a very calming voice. But In the end, she was the real villain. Her character perfectly depicts how some women are compliant in situations of abuse and or in devious motives. Did she have a choice or did she fall down the wrong path of being in love with a certain person with a history? Or was she a woman who was silenced and fell into the pipeline and cycle of abuse?
To wrap things up, at the end of camp. Cam is “offered” a spot on the team replacing Isisah. But it comes with a price. Elise tells him to attend a party. Although Cam is hesitant, he goes. The party is in the deep middle of nowhere. Elise takes him in. The party is very lively. Cam sees his manager, and with a bunch of higher ups in the industry of entertainment and sports. The party is very strange but very wealthy. Cam’s manager tells him he is in, but.. he has to make a sacrifice. and it’s Isisah. His time is over as the reigning football star. In an fight scene, Cam defeats Isisah. Isisah is gone. Cam comes out of the tunnel. His dream comes true. His manager, Elise, and the high-ups are waiting for him to make the deal. Cam goes on tirade and ends everyone. He walks off. The End
My opinion is that the ending was not very satisfying. We can assume that Cam lives a normal life? He goes home and reunites with his family and gets his health in order. But did the movie really accomplish what it sought out? I think the main premise of be careful of what you wish for is very much accoplished. I think the tones of being perfect was great story as well. But it could have gone darker. Like the Bull part really faded towards the end. I would have like to see it actually conquered. I really want to see more of the actor Tyriq Withers. He did an phenomenal job of playing Cam. Although my only perception of his acting was in Atlanta. I can see more of him in dramatic roles.
If you are like me , it is a safe thriller.
