HIM Movie Review: Blood, Sweat, and Terror on the Turf Friday 19 September, 2025
Justin Tipping’s “HIM” isn’t the horror movie you think it is. Sure, there are horrific moments, some blood, and jaw-dropping gore — but what makes this film truly unsettling isn’t just the scares. It’s psychological, tense, and deeply thought-provoking, forcing you to confront the question at the heart of the story: what does it take for someone to become “HIM”?
It’s politically charged nightmare fuel, yet “HIM” doesn’t over-explain, leaving you like a player stuck in a dark stadium tunnel, retracing the same threats and anxieties while desperately anticipating what comes next.
Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers), a young quarterback on the verge of going pro, suffers a brutal skull injury that unleashes demons, hallucinations, or maybe something far more terrifying. As he navigates the Saviors’ world under star veteran quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), the movie asks: what will save you when danger is everywhere on and off the field? What does it take to earn godlike fame and admiration? The NFL — and by extension, professional sports — becomes a dark metaphor for devotion, sacrifice, and even cult-like worship. Blood, sweat, and tears are expected, but the film asks whether the price of glory is truly worth it.
Tipping amplifies this tension with X-ray vision sequences showing bone-crushing hits, making the physical and psychological stakes feel immediate and horrifying. Every moment reminds you: this isn’t just about surviving the field — it’s about surviving the system, the culture, and the ambition that drives it.
In HIM, the real horror isn’t just on the field — it’s in the psychological battlefield of ambition, envy, and power. Marlon Wayans’ Isaiah White, the veteran quarterback, becomes a mentor turned menace, terrified that Cameron Cade (Withers), the rising rookie, might surpass him (Wayans) and steal his godlike glory. The competition to remain “HIM” fuels jealousy, paranoia, and a brutal struggle that feels almost supernatural — but HIM isn’t an actual devil.
Instead, HIM shows how anyone can turn sinister when their status, fame, and power are threatened. Isaiah’s fear of losing his crown makes mentorship toxic, and every hit, every interaction, and every calculated move becomes a tense game of survival. Blood, sweat, and psychological terror collide as Cameron must navigate not just the physical brutality of football, but the dark, manipulative world of those who fear losing their place at the top.
While HIM’s trailers and posters tease occult imagery and religious blasphemy, those elements are mostly clickbait—they don’t define the story. The film isn’t about a literal devil or bloody rituals; that would be predictable. Sure, some viewers may dive into religious or occult interpretations because it’s trendy, but that misses the real point.
The true horror lies in the centuries-old gladiator-like culture of football. Young men are elevated to near-godlike status on the field, worshipped by fans, idolized by aspiring athletes, and pressured to sacrifice everything off it. HIM exposes what it really takes to become “HIM”—the brutal physical toll, the psychological strain, and the toxic hierarchies that turn mentorship into menace. It’s a story of ambition, envy, and survival, showing that the horrors of sport are far more real and terrifying than any supernatural threat.
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Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers), a young quarterback on the verge of going pro, suffers a brutal skull injury that unleashes demons, hallucinations, or maybe something far more terrifying. As he navigates the Saviors’ world under star veteran quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), the movie asks: what will save you when danger is everywhere on and off the field? What does it take to earn godlike fame and admiration? The NFL — and by extension, professional sports — becomes a dark metaphor for devotion, sacrifice, and even cult-like worship. Blood, sweat, and tears are expected, but the film asks whether the price of glory is truly worth it.
In HIM, the real horror isn’t just on the field — it’s in the psychological battlefield of ambition, envy, and power. Marlon Wayans’ Isaiah White, the veteran quarterback, becomes a mentor turned menace, terrified that Cameron Cade (Withers), the rising rookie, might surpass him (Wayans) and steal his godlike glory. The competition to remain “HIM” fuels jealousy, paranoia, and a brutal struggle that feels almost supernatural — but HIM isn’t an actual devil.
Instead, HIM shows how anyone can turn sinister when their status, fame, and power are threatened. Isaiah’s fear of losing his crown makes mentorship toxic, and every hit, every interaction, and every calculated move becomes a tense game of survival. Blood, sweat, and psychological terror collide as Cameron must navigate not just the physical brutality of football, but the dark, manipulative world of those who fear losing their place at the top.
While HIM’s trailers and posters tease occult imagery and religious blasphemy, those elements are mostly clickbait—they don’t define the story. The film isn’t about a literal devil or bloody rituals; that would be predictable. Sure, some viewers may dive into religious or occult interpretations because it’s trendy, but that misses the real point.
The true horror lies in the centuries-old gladiator-like culture of football. Young men are elevated to near-godlike status on the field, worshipped by fans, idolized by aspiring athletes, and pressured to sacrifice everything off it. HIM exposes what it really takes to become “HIM”—the brutal physical toll, the psychological strain, and the toxic hierarchies that turn mentorship into menace. It’s a story of ambition, envy, and survival, showing that the horrors of sport are far more real and terrifying than any supernatural threat.
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