Matthew Percefull
Jordan Peele is one of the most exciting voices in film to emerge over the past decade. Since his debut feature, Get Out, audiences know to expect something thought-provoking and groundbreaking when they see his name on a trailer. Peele has been very generous with his name’s goodwill amongst film goers. He has produced several films since 2017 under his Monkey Paw banner, including the Candyman reimagining and last year’s Monkey Man. Filmmakers acting as producers is something that I’ve always liked. I see it as a sort of stamp of approval. The upcoming sports-horror film HIM is the latest film to get such a cosign from Jordan Peele.
The trailer for HIM starts with a mislead. We see generic football footage while a motivational speech plays over the top. The first half of the trailer plays like a commercial for Nike. It’s very sterile and flat. The editing is very advertisement-coded as well. It maintains this tone right up until the halfway point. We see a traumatic injury, then the trailer flips on its head. We are taken to a strange training camp of sorts. A charismatic but creepy mentor, Isaiah White, monologues about sacrifices as increasingly unsettling sequences play out. The clever take on athletic commercials and training camps is a taste of what the satire of this film could deliver if done right.
HIM stars Tyriq Withers as Cameron Cade, a promising young football star. Withers brings some personal experience to the role. He played wide receiver for Florida State in 2017. Withers hasn’t been in much before him aside from a few TV performances. He was really impressive in a one-off episode of Atlanta that I think showcases his range. That episode plays on social and political commentary that are in the same vein as what’s shown in the trailer. Withers has the chance for a real breakout with this film.
Wayans co-stars as legendary quarterback Isaiah White. He is electric in the trailer. He’s the perfect amount of menacing and charismatic needed for a role like this. The idea of a coach-like figure as a horror villain is an idea that hasn’t been quite explored. Wayans has the range to pull that off. Hopefully, the writing meets him there. Wayans hasn’t done a horror film without parody elements. He’s spoofed the genre countless times, so it’s only right that he finally takes his turn as a horror villain.
Peele and Wayans are household names that will help get butts in seats. There is also some exciting new talent getting their first big shot with HIM. Director Justin Tipping has been a consistent TV director but has had poor luck getting a feature off the ground. This will be his feature debut, and if the trailer is any indication, it’s a flashy first flick. Alongside Tipping, screenwriters Skip Bronkie and Zach Akers are also first-timers. Peele has given these filmmakers a shot, and I’m very intrigued about it.
The mix of sports and horror feels like unexplored territory. The world of professional sports feels ripe for the setting of a horror film. Recently, the genre has explored many occupations and industries. They’ve targeted chefs in The Menu and pop stars in Opus, so it was inevitable that a film of that nature centered on an athlete. The grip that sports have on America is only getting tighter, so now is a great time to question it. HIM appears to tackle the pressure these men put on their bodies as well as their intersection with fame.
HIM seems to fit very snugly within the Monkey Paw Productions filmography. Peele has done a great job of curating a batch of films that match his unique style. He has a fresh concept and features both new and established talent. I’m excited to see just how twisted and weird things get at this disturbing camp.
