By Ash Crites, Guest Columnist
Justin Tipping’s 2025 film, “Him,” has been a failure at the box office, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of only 28%. People claim it’s disjointed, plotless, and even boring!
Most are disappointed that Jordan Peele didn’t direct the movie, due to misleading promos. Regardless, I argue that “Him” is going to become a cult classic film, and I’m so excited to tell you why!
First, allow me to introduce myself. Hey, I’m Ash Crites. I love to talk about horror movies in popular culture. I love the horror genre because I believe it uses fear to comment on contemporary society’s sensibilities. Now that introductions are done, let’s get started.
I’m sure you’re familiar with American football games. Everyone adorns themselves in team merchandise, buys outrageously expensive paraphernalia, and screams at overworked stars.
“Him” takes this to the extreme, showing audiences what it really means to idolize. Justin Tipping’s film spins the typical “God, Family, Football,” sports movie themes by asking sport loving audiences “what really comes first?”
Cameron Cade’s dream is to honor his father by replacing Isaiah White as The Savior’s quarterback (QB), and using the money to care for his family. Through brutal body-horror imagery and Christian iconography, Cameron’s familial devotion is consistently challenged throughout the film.
“Him” contests football against family, thereby challenging sport-loving audiences to consider what’s at the top of their implicit hierarchical biases; more so, the film questions what God is to people who idolize a materialist empire, like football. To be completely honest, “Him,” leaves some audience members wanting more in regards to exploring these themes; however, I believe the visuals carry the film to a major touchdown.
“Him” reveals American sports culture’s dirty truth through a new cinematic language. Tipping uses thermal cameras and computer generated imagery (CGI)–an innovative combination in cinematography–to capture “the invisible killer.”
This is known as football related brain injuries, mostly correlating with concussions. “The invisible killer” is a taboo topic for American football lovers because any talk that could potentially bring the sport to a halt goes against their fanatic beliefs. Tipping wants audiences to sit with that discomfort with a full X-ray view.
Although Cameron Cade has a heartwarming story, that doesn’t stop him from receiving a potentially career ending–completely visible–injury at the film’s beginning.
“Him” is a game changer because it is the first major film to show football for what it is. The truth is that “Him” is not a sports movie critiquing its contemporaries. “Him” is scary for a reason.
Justin Tipping uses horror as a medium for discussing American sports culture’s dark underbelly.
“Him” blends haunting materialism and idol worship with horrific fame seamlessly through visual metaphors, and sharp violence. Currently, there is speculation that the studio who produced the film required cuts.
There are rumors that crucial scenes did not make it to theaters. Contemporary audiences are not receiving “Him” well; however, the movie’s bold innovation, and controversial themes, will be enough to make it a staple in horror’s history.