'HIM' Movie Review
- Miss JLH
- Sep 26
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 8
Last Friday, my homegirl and I decided to go to the other side of town to the cleaner and much smaller movie theater to enjoy the new release of HIM. I wanted to see this movie for a few reasons: one, it was a Jordan Peele production; two, Marlon Wayans…I mean, come ON! And lastly, it incorporated various elements of horror, and I love a good scare.
Before I jump into my thoughts about this film, let me provide a quick synopsis. The film stars Marlon Wayans (Isaiah White), Tyriq Withers (Cameron Cade), Julia Fox (Elsie White), and Tim Weidecker (Tom). Cameron Cade, a young up-and-coming football player (Withers), trains at the isolated compound of an aging, nearly retired quarterback (Wayans) whose charisma curdles into something darker.
I read a few critiques and reviews for this film, many of which I disagreed with, and I want to ask the public: what is it that you really want from the industry? Too often, we complain about the lack of originality, talent, and opportunities available within the film industry, and this film breaks barriers by allowing a pool of new talent and fresh ideas to emerge.
The Plot
Before we get into the thick of it, please note that spoilers will be included beyond this point, so if you have yet to see the movie, please refrain from reading any further. My first thought about the plot is that it's straightforward, a complaint a few critics had, but it didn't bother me. The plot is also not new, particularly when it comes to the theme of selling one's soul to achieve greatness. Movies like Vox Lux (2018), Bedazzled (1967/2000), and even Keanu Reeves/Al Pacino’s The Devil’s Advocate (1997). While all these movies are very different, one thing they do have in common is the deal one can make with evil to obtain “the good life.”
From childhood, Cameron Cade (Withers) had been prepared to play football and emulate his hero, Isaiah White. Looking back at the film, it makes you think, was this Cameron’s dream, or was he trying to uphold a dream his father had for him? Or maybe it was a memory of his father he was trying to maintain; whatever the reason, it also made you question how far someone is willing to go to achieve their goals, and lastly, how much of our life is actually a matter of free will or predestination. It’s not until towards the end of the film that you are finally made aware that Cameron Cade’s future may not have been something he worked hard for the way he thinks he has, as he has to either stand by his morals and values and put football above God and Family or cave to the pressures of “selling out.”
Personally, I will always love the plot of good versus evil; it is a way to examine what one truly stands for and what in this life is essential to you.
The Acting
I love Marlon Wayans. I’ve been a fan of the entire Wayans family since In Living Color. While many tend to think of this family as only comedic geniuses, I need people to understand just how multifaceted and talented they truly are. Not only do they write, produce, and perform their own work, but they do it with a level of excellence I feel is not acknowledged enough. Around 2006, Marlon broke away from the Wayans empire to carve out his own lane. Within that time frame, he has remained true to his comedic roots, but he has also delivered more serious performances, which is how I knew he was ready for this role.
Tyriq Withers is still an up-and-coming actor, and I'm excited to see what the future holds for him. It was his featured role in Season 3, Episode 9 of Atlanta that first introduced me to Withers. I’m hoping he gets more roles to show what he can really do on screen. I would say the most surprising acting of the entire film came from Julia Fox. I’m not going to say she acted like herself because I have only seen two Julia Fox interviews that were really snippets, so I wouldn't know how she typically is; however, I didn’t realize who she actually was until the credits, so I think that speaks volumes, lol.
The Production/Directing
This film was produced by Jordan Peele and Monkey Paw Productions. By now, if you see those two things, you automatically assume it's going to be a masterpiece; at least, that's the online consensus. But what does it mean that Jordan Peele produced the film? Jordan Peele's Involvement in making the movie implies that he was involved in overseeing the development and production of the movie, contributing to its creative direction and decision-making. Peele is known for his work in the horror genre, and his production company, Monkeypaw Productions, is recognized for creating unique and thought-provoking films. The film was directed by Justin Tipping, an up-and-coming director, producer, and writer. It has been eight years since his last movie, so this project was long overdue. Teaming up with writers Zack Ackers and Skip Bronkie, this team was able to create a thriller just in time for Spooky season.
While this movie isn’t scary per se, it is still a pretty decent film and story. I love the use of the color red in the film, it reminded me of the movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha' with their symbolic use of the color red. There were small moments of jump scares as something big and creepy lurks in the shadows within various moments throughout the film. At the beginning of the film, Cameron is attacked by one of those creepy things that lurk in the shadows. Following the attack, his career is now all up in the air, until…he’s invited to train with Isaiah White. While at the training camp with Isaiah, you continue to question how real that situation was, as well as the situations unfolding within the camp. Well, maybe not you; let me speak for myself…I was questioning how real everything was. I also wasn’t sure if Cameron was being drugged or what. It all made more sense when they came together in the end. I was STILL expecting a little more horror or jump scares, but perhaps that's for another time and another movie, I guess. Listen, if you have nothing else to do on a Friday/Saturday night, then I recommend this movie, it's not bad but I just don't wanna put pants on to see this again that's all lol.
The Soundtrack
One of my FAVORITE pieces of this release would be The Soundtrack! I love a good soundtrack for a film. I think my favorite part of this soundtrack is the fact that the film's score was added to the soundtrack. Many soundtracks for films will not include the score. And for those who aren't sure what a score is, no worries I got you:
The soundtrack starts off with a scene from the film and follows the movies timeline following up with a classic track from Gucci Mane, 'Lemonade.' From there you get a mix of new tunes giving opportunities for artists to shine like, OG DAYV, Sampa the Great, Tierra Whack, LaRussell, Larry June and Guapdad 4000, just to name a few. The soundtrack is a great flow and mix between the songs with lyrics and the score. While the score is creepy in sound, due to it being a thriller film, I love hearing all of the instruments that were used to perform those pieces, from the violin to the cello, there is just something about an orchestra that just does it for me! Highly recommend checking out the soundtrack, links below!
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