HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
04-18-25 | 11:00 AM
#1
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Hero
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 39,229
Received 1,618 Likes
on
1,146 Posts
From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
What would you sacrifice to become the greatest of all time?
From Oscar® winner Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions, producers of the landmark horror films Get Out, Us, Candyman and Nope, comes a chilling journey into the inner sanctum of fame, idolatry and the pursuit of excellence at any cost, featuringan electrifying dramatic performance from Marlon Wayans (Air, Respect).
HIM stars former college wide-receiver Tyriq Withers (Atlanta, the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer) as Cameron Cade, a rising-star quarterback who has devoted his life, and identity, to football. On the eve of professional football’s annual scouting Combine, Cam is attacked by an unhinged fan and suffers a potentially career-ending brain trauma.
Just when all seems lost, Cam receives a lifeline when his hero, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), a legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar, offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife, Elsie White (Julia Fox; Uncut Gems, No Sudden Move). But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker, sending his protégé down a disorienting rabbit hole that may cost him more than he ever bargained for.
The film features a dynamic supporting cast including alternative comedy legend Tim Heidecker (First Time Female Director, Us) and Australian comic Jim Jefferies (The Jim Jefferies Show), plus MMA heavyweight fighter Maurice Greene and hip hop phenoms Guapdad 4000 and Grammy nominee Tierra Whack, all three in their feature film debuts.
HIM is directed by Justin Tipping (Kicks) from an acclaimed Black List screenplay by Zack Akers & Skip Bronkie (creators of the sci-fi crime series Limetown) and by Justin Tipping. The film is produced by Ian Cooper (Nope, Us), Jordan Peele (Candyman,BlacKkKlansman), Win Rosenfeld (Candyman, Lovecraft Country) and Jamal M. Watson (Hala, Sprinter) for Monkeypaw Productions and is executive produced by David Kern and Monkeypaw’s Kate Oh.
From Oscar® winner Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions, producers of the landmark horror films Get Out, Us, Candyman and Nope, comes a chilling journey into the inner sanctum of fame, idolatry and the pursuit of excellence at any cost, featuringan electrifying dramatic performance from Marlon Wayans (Air, Respect).
HIM stars former college wide-receiver Tyriq Withers (Atlanta, the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer) as Cameron Cade, a rising-star quarterback who has devoted his life, and identity, to football. On the eve of professional football’s annual scouting Combine, Cam is attacked by an unhinged fan and suffers a potentially career-ending brain trauma.
Just when all seems lost, Cam receives a lifeline when his hero, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), a legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar, offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife, Elsie White (Julia Fox; Uncut Gems, No Sudden Move). But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker, sending his protégé down a disorienting rabbit hole that may cost him more than he ever bargained for.
The film features a dynamic supporting cast including alternative comedy legend Tim Heidecker (First Time Female Director, Us) and Australian comic Jim Jefferies (The Jim Jefferies Show), plus MMA heavyweight fighter Maurice Greene and hip hop phenoms Guapdad 4000 and Grammy nominee Tierra Whack, all three in their feature film debuts.
HIM is directed by Justin Tipping (Kicks) from an acclaimed Black List screenplay by Zack Akers & Skip Bronkie (creators of the sci-fi crime series Limetown) and by Justin Tipping. The film is produced by Ian Cooper (Nope, Us), Jordan Peele (Candyman,BlacKkKlansman), Win Rosenfeld (Candyman, Lovecraft Country) and Jamal M. Watson (Hala, Sprinter) for Monkeypaw Productions and is executive produced by David Kern and Monkeypaw’s Kate Oh.
04-26-25 | 09:34 PM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
Loved the trailer.
Looking forward to checking this one out.
Looking forward to checking this one out.
04-27-25 | 10:50 AM
#3
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
"celebrity influencer wife" 
04-28-25 | 11:08 AM
#4
Administrator
08-06-25 | 10:49 AM
#5
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Hero
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 39,229
Received 1,618 Likes
on
1,146 Posts
From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
08-07-25 | 10:56 AM
#6
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Hero
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 39,229
Received 1,618 Likes
on
1,146 Posts
From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
08-08-25 | 10:13 AM
#7
DVD Talk Hero
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
Continues to look fucking nuts. Gotta give them credit for making the only "sports horror" movie I've ever heard of. There's intense sports movies with injuries and such, but I certainly can't think of one that leans into the horror side this much.
08-08-25 | 11:07 AM
#8
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
Rollerball?
08-08-25 | 11:42 AM
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
Never-was actor Orlando Bloom’s The Cut is a psychological thriller about boxing.
08-08-25 | 10:50 PM
#10
DVD Talk Hero
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 34,164
Received 2,037 Likes
on
1,385 Posts
From: Not necessarily Formerly known as Solid Snake
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
If it weren't for Peele's name in the trailer, I would have easily written this off as an over-stylized piece of horror trash.
But seeing his involvement led me to watch the trailer . . . and then dismiss it as an over-stylized piece of horror trash.
Maybe I'm wrong.
But seeing his involvement led me to watch the trailer . . . and then dismiss it as an over-stylized piece of horror trash.
Maybe I'm wrong.
08-08-25 | 11:22 PM
#11
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
Peele didn't write or direct it. Not really sure how valuable his name is on a project like this. If he just signed the checks.
08-08-25 | 11:41 PM
#12
DVD Talk God
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
Yeah Peele could have just brought the script to Universal and once they greenlit it, he gets a producer credit.
08-09-25 | 10:07 AM
#13
DVD Talk Hero
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
08-09-25 | 01:05 PM
#14
DVD Talk Hero
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 34,164
Received 2,037 Likes
on
1,385 Posts
From: Not necessarily Formerly known as Solid Snake
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
I am well aware of that, as I said, it was enough that I gave the trailer a chance though. It’s not much different than Tarantino slapping his name on king fu films.
08-10-25 | 10:43 AM
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
This looks like a movie that tackles CTE, which could make it very important. Hopefully it shines a light on the topic and we stop sacrificing people for entertainment.
08-11-25 | 08:15 PM
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
Probably an allegory for steroid and pain killer abuse.
08-11-25 | 08:45 PM
#17
Moderator
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
The trailer played before Weapons last night and when it was over, the last screen flashing HIM in huge letters, the guy behind me asked really loud, "Okay, but they didn't even say the name of the movie." A few people said, "Him." He said in a roll your eyes sort of way, "Me." Like, he thought they were referring to him and not HIM. It was kinda funny.
08-11-25 | 08:49 PM
#18
DVD Talk Hero
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
The trailer played before Weapons last night and when it was over, the last screen flashing HIM in huge letters, the guy behind me asked really loud, "Okay, but they didn't even say the name of the movie." A few people said, "Him." He said in a roll your eyes sort of way, "Me." Like, he thought they were referring to him and not HIM. It was kinda funny.
08-12-25 | 07:41 AM
#19
DVD Talk Hero
08-12-25 | 07:54 AM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
If anything, this will probably glamourize the lifestyle. Same way a bunch of idiots went out and laid on a highway after The Program came out.
08-12-25 | 03:46 PM
#21
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
Marlon Wayans is enough to keep me away from this film.
09-20-25 | 07:37 PM
#22
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
You nailed it on just the trailer. Saw this on Dolby today and it is neck and neck as worst of the year with Hurry Up Tomorrow. Funny enough, both are over stylized with a lack of story. This says nothing about CTE or steroids or pain med abuse. It's also a real stretch to put this in the horror category. Cult thriller maybe. My theater was also bare bones so word definitely got out on this one quick.
09-21-25 | 09:06 PM
#23
DVD Talk Hero
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
A sports-themed horror movie sounds interesting on paper, but I think it would be really difficult to pull off without seeming corny. Sports movies can be overwrought and silly, anyway, as can horror movies, so when they're combined, you risk making a mad Targaryen.
09-21-25 | 09:29 PM
#24
DVD Talk Hero
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
Spielberg was always kind of careful about that... getting credited for great films like Poltergeist, Gremlins and Back to the Future, but his name was also splashed across stuff like Batteries Not Included and Young Sherlock Holmes.
I was a kid when a lot of that stuff came out and thought Spielberg directed Gremlins and BTTF. Still think he directed Poltergeist, though.
Peele only has three movies under his belt. Get Out was a massive hit, Us did as well as Get Out at the box office, but I don't think it had the same impact, and I think Nope left most people confused, so he's sort of on a downward trajectory. HIM seems like it's being promoted as the next Jordan Peele movie.
09-22-25 | 08:50 AM
#25
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Hero
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 39,229
Received 1,618 Likes
on
1,146 Posts
From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
Re: HIM (2025; D: Tipping) S: Wayans, Withers -- sports horror thriller
Don't name directors run a risk of damaging their brand by getting their names prominently attached to too many terrible movies?
Spielberg was always kind of careful about that... getting credited for great films like Poltergeist, Gremlins and Back to the Future, but his name was also splashed across stuff like Batteries Not Included and Young Sherlock Holmes.
I was a kid when a lot of that stuff came out and thought Spielberg directed Gremlins and BTTF. Still think he directed Poltergeist, though.
Spielberg was always kind of careful about that... getting credited for great films like Poltergeist, Gremlins and Back to the Future, but his name was also splashed across stuff like Batteries Not Included and Young Sherlock Holmes.
I was a kid when a lot of that stuff came out and thought Spielberg directed Gremlins and BTTF. Still think he directed Poltergeist, though.
