Title – Him (2025)

Director – Justin Tipping (Kicks)

Cast – Tyriq Withers, Marlon Wayans, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies

Plot – American football quarterback prodigy Cameron Cade (Withers) is invited by aging superstar Isaiah White (Wayans) to train with him at his own personal facility in the aftermath of Cameron’s career being put in jeopardy thanks to an unprovoked attack.

“Transitions of power are never peaceful”

Review by Eddie on 10/12/2025

A top contender for 2025’s most disappointing film that also doubles as one of the calendar years biggest teases, the Jordan Peele produced Him has all the makings of a genre mash-up/ commentary piece that could have been as noteworthy as its producers own directional efforts but as it stands, Justin Tipping’s unique but notably flawed offering is an unfortunate missed opportunity.

Visually splendid and loaded throughout with snippets of greatness and an unnerving tone that balances comedic elements with horrific undertones as we follow Tyriq Wither’s budding football prodigy Cameron Cade on a transformative journey, one that’s championed by Marlon Wayans obsessed aging football star Isaiah White, Him more than once becomes tantalisingly close to something special but there’s far too many underdeveloped and half-baked concepts at play here for the film to be regarded as a success.

Starting off promisingly enough as the audience and Cameron are thrust into the often brutal world of professional sports and the even wilder world of Wayan’s dementedly determined White, Him appears as though it’s going to launch into a wild and unpredictable place of greatness but Tipping and his fellow screenwriters Skip Bronkie and Zack Akers are unable to come to grips with their concept leaving large chunks of ideas and possibilities in the locker room.

Alongside the impressive visuals and at times unnerving sense of foreboding dread is the fact Tipping wastes a scene chewing and spotlight hogging turn from Wayans who once more proves he’s far more than just the loud-mouthed comedian who made it big with the likes of White Chicks and Scary Movie.

Proving his mettle in the past in dramatic offerings such as Requiem for a Dream and Air, Wayan’s has a blast bringing his maniac White to life and if the film around him had somehow managed to bring everything together the way everyone would’ve hoped for, Him might just have become something special, just as many fellow horror films have become in 2025.

Culminating in a memorably over the top and eye-popping fashion, Him isn’t without merit but with a lack of scares, character connection and unfocussed approach, there’s no denying that Tipping’s film is far from a touchdown.

Final Say –

A sad case of what might have been, Him can’t overcome its varied weaknesses and its lack of scares and explanation brings it back down far too often when it appears as though it’s launching into something fantastic.

2 1/2 ice baths out of 5