The marketing for this film is hoping people will mistakenly think Jordan Peele directed “HIM” and there is a reason for that.  The relatively unknown director, Justin Tipping, clearly has a vision for this movie, but falls short in the narrative department.

Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) has been groomed since childhood to be the next Greatest of All Time quarterback for the San Antonio Saviors.  His father idolizes the current quarterback, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), and with good reason.  White has won eight Super Bowls, with a majority of those after a brutal injury that would end most careers.  Cade is an extremely talented quarterback in college and is believed to be the number one draft pick for the Saviors.  There are rumors that White’s contract is finally up, and the team owners are looking for a replacement.  It seems everything is falling into place for Cade, until a head injury puts his entire future in jeopardy.

White sees the potential in Cade, even with the injury, and invites him to spend a week at his remote compound. It’s here where things get really bizarre. It’s also here where the movie is unsure what to do with itself. At first, White seems to be an understandable mix of charming and eccentric, but he slowly reveals himself as unhinged and violent.  Cade begins to have increasingly disturbing dreams and hallucinations. These are coupled with White’s brutal and sometimes cruel training regimen.

“HIM” has three things going for it. Marlon Wayans doesn’t hold back in his performance. It’s the type of role we’re more used to seeing Nic Cage in than the guy from “White Chicks.” Even if it doesn’t all land right, Wayans deserves respect for his commitment to the role.  Second, the abstract visuals are top-notch. While they vary from too abstract to imagery that is too on the nose, they are the most interesting aspect of the movie.  Third is the exceptional soundtrack.  Coupled with the visuals,  “HIM”  feels more like an anthology of music videos than a narrative film.

“HIM” ends up as another example of style over substance.  It takes too long to get where it’s going, the metaphors are a jumbled mess, and it can’t decide what it really wants to say.  It feels like the only thing missing at the end is a title card that says, “And then he woke up! It was all just a dream!”

 

HIM
2.5

 

 

 

 

 

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