HIM (2025): Victory Isn’t the Only Prize : Review

Story & Premise

Directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, HIM centres on the promising young quarterback Tyriq Withers as Cameron “Cam” Cade, who is invited to train under the aging legend Marlon Wayans’ Isaiah White at a secluded compound. On the surface it appears to be a sports-mentorship story, but as Cam advances, things become sinister: rituals, isolation, bodily risk and supernatural hints underscore his pursuit.

Wikipedia

+2

9meters

+2

The film uses its 96-minute runtime to chase the dark side of ambition: what happens when the idol becomes the oppressor, when training becomes a test of more than skill, and when the dream of greatness turns into a nightmare.

pathe.nl

+1

What Works Well

The melding of sports-drama with horror is fresh. It’s rare to see a film that takes the trappings of athletic success — trophy, team, celebrity — and twists them into ritual and obsession. The premise alone sets it apart.

TheWrap

+1

Marlon Wayans delivers more than you might expect from him in this type of film. As Isaiah White he brings charisma, menace, and the aura of a champion whose legacy is slipping — perfect for a horror metaphor about fading glory.

The visuals and tone have ambition: the isolated compound, the training montage turned trial, the slow descents into weirdness. The film doesn’t hide that it’s leaning into surreal and unsettling territory.

filmtotaal.nl

+1

Where It Falls Short

The film’s reception has been notably mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes it holds around a 30% critic score — the consensus: “Style to spare but botches its promising conceit with rookie execution.”

Rotten Tomatoes

Some viewers felt the narrative lacked depth: motivations for characters feel thin, certain horror beats feel under-explored, and the shift into full ritual horror in the final act can feel abrupt. > “There were a lot of potential directions the movie could go… I actively wanted it to end as quickly as possible.”

Reddit

Because the film is short, tight at 96 minutes, some character arcs and tonal shifts appear rushed. The build-up has potential but the payoff may not satisfy everyone.

Themes & Impact

HIM is more than just a horror flick with football gear. It deals with idol worship, the cult of sports stardom, the vulnerability behind the helmet. The training compound becomes a temple, the quarterback an altar, and Cam’s body the sacrifice. For sports fans, fans of horror, and anyone fascinated by how ambition can be exploited, there is substance here.

The film also raises questions: Who gets to define greatness? At what cost do we chase it? And when the idol falls, who pays the consequences? Using horror tropes to explore these gives HIM a glint of something more than a simple genre film.

Final Verdict

★★★☆☆ (3/5)

If you come in expecting a standard horror flick or a classic football story, you may be disappointed. But if you’re open to something weird, ambitious and genre-blending, HIM delivers an intriguing ride.

Recommended for:

Viewers curious about horror that uses real-world settings (sports) in uncanny ways.

Fans of psychological horror and metaphorical storytelling.

Those who like their films to provoke questions rather than give all the answers.

Less suited for:

Viewers wanting tight plot logic and detailed character motivations.

People who dislike abrupt tonal shifts or surreal horror.

Audiences expecting a pure sports movie.

Closing Thoughts

HIM reminds us that sometimes it’s not the opponent across the field who threatens us — it’s the legacy we inherit, the training we accept, the idol we become. The pursuit of greatness is glamorous until you see the mirror at the end of victory. In that dark reflection, HIM asks: Are you ready for what you give up?