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The new film Him, produced by Jordan Peele, takes a very dark and gory look at professional sports. It tells the story of a young quarterback named Cameron Cade, played by Tyriq Withers, as he tries to rise to the top. The film starts with promise, showing Cameron as a talented college athlete, but he suffers a traumatic brain injury right before an NFL scouting event. From there, the story shifts into something much stranger, moving from psychological tension to a bizarre, over-the-top spectacle that pulls focus from its critique of the sports world.
Cameron’s journey begins with hope but quickly turns grim. After his injury, doctors advise him to retire, but he is pushed by his father to continue. He seeks guidance from Isaiah White, played by Marlon Wayans, a former NFL quarterback. At first, it seems like mentorship, but it soon becomes clear that White’s coaching methods are extreme and even sinister.
The story takes a darker turn when Cameron arrives at White’s desert compound. There, he meets a cult-like group and is cut off from the outside world. His phone is taken, and he is forced into intense psychological training. The process is brutal, both physically and mentally. Fellow athletes are punished for Cameron’s mistakes, and some of the punishments are cruel and sadistic. The film builds an unnerving atmosphere as Cameron is pushed to his limits.
As the film goes on, it becomes more surreal and over-the-top. Cameron undergoes mysterious blood transfusions, and dreamlike sequences start to dominate the story. There is even a scene that recreates the Last Supper painting, which feels out of place. The imagery is striking, but the narrative begins to feel disjointed.
The violence is graphic and often shown through X-ray-style visuals, highlighting the internal damage to the athletes’ bodies. The score by Bobby Krlic adds to the eerie, intense atmosphere, and the performances are strong. However, by the time the story reaches its gory finale, it becomes so absurd that much of the tension is lost. Audiences may leave either bewildered or laughing at the surreal and grotesque spectacle, rather than feeling the intended horror.