HIM: Stylish, Entertaining, But Not Quite GOAT Status

This might end up being the most polarizing movie of the year. I went in with zero expectations, and to my surprise, I actually enjoyed it.

First, the positives. Although the marketing leans heavily on Jordan Peele’s name, this is far from a Jordan Peele movie. You can catch hints of his vibe here and there, but this is very much a Justin Tippin film. He brings a cool visual style to the storytelling and has a great ear for music—the soundtrack is an absolute banger.

That said, the movie still felt, for lack of a better word, tamed. As a sports psychological thriller with horror elements, it doesn’t fully maximize its potential. The horror isn’t really scary, the football sequences—particularly the drills and training—lack the visceral punch needed to sell those moments, and even the fantasy aspects (the women, sex, glory, money, and fame that come with being a GOAT) don’t completely land.

The standout strength is the chemistry between Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers. Their performances carry the film and are easily its best parts. The supernatural elements were a nice touch, adding a layer of intrigue and making the story echo real-life conversations and conspiracies about today’s sports GOATs in a more mystical way.

The first half has a grounded tone, but the movie loses steam midway and eventually goes off the rails, diving headfirst into eccentric and supernatural territory. If it had ended about five minutes earlier, it probably would have worked better. Instead, it drags into a nonsensical finale.

Overall, though, Marlon Wayans’s eccentric character, Tyriq Withers’s strong performance, the stylish visuals, and the banger soundtrack keep HIM from being boring—and made it at least entertaining.