Let’s start with what HIM absolutely gets right, because there is real talent on display here. Visually, the movie is beautiful. The cinematography is sleek, confident, and often striking, even if the heavy reliance on darkness will be a frustrating watch for anyone viewing it at home. You’ll probably find yourself adjusting your TV settings more than once. The score is fantastic and does a lot of the emotional heavy lifting, adding tension and weight to scenes that might otherwise feel empty.
And the acting? Really, really good. Marlon Wayans delivers a genuinely surprising performance, shedding comedy expectations and leaning fully into something cold, cruel, and unsettling. Tyriq Withers is magnetic and raw, the kind of performance that makes you immediately think, “Yeah, this guy’s going places.” Even Jim Jeffries, an odd but oddly satisfying casting choice, works far better than expected in his role.
That said, here’s the core problem with HIM: nothing really happens.
The movie feels like it desperately wants to be about something. Horror. Psychological thriller. Satire. Commentary on fame, masculinity, and obsession. But instead of committing, it drifts between ideas and ends up as a beautifully wrapped package with very little inside. Despite being marketed as a horror film, it simply isn’t scary. There are horror elements sprinkled throughout, but tension rarely escalates, and true dread never arrives. And frustratingly, the plot barely moves until the final 15 minutes.
That’s especially disappointing considering the hype. Billed as one of September 2025’s most anticipated horror releases, with Jordan Peele attached as producer, expectations were understandably high. The premise is strong on paper: a legendary football star with eight consecutive Super Bowl rings refuses to let go of his glory days and becomes obsessed with eliminating his successor to stay on top. There’s so much potential baked into that idea.
The first act proves it. The movie opens strong and pulls you in immediately. The second act wobbles a bit but still delivers enough intrigue and momentum to keep you watching. It feels like a slow climb up a roller coaster, where you trust the payoff will be worth it. Unfortunately, once the third act hits, the wheels completely come off.
Instead of a powerful or disturbing finale, the movie collapses under bizarre choices, awkward dialogue, and a tonal shift that borders on parody. The sacrifice subplot becomes a mess, mixing biblical symbolism with demonic imagery in a way that never coheres. Goats show up repeatedly, hammering home the idea of Satan posing as God, but the messaging is muddled and ultimately meaningless. Even Marlon Wayans’ chilling line about “Football first, family second, God third” gets lost in the chaos.
Then there’s the infamous line, “If you let me go, I’ll suck your dick.” It comes completely out of nowhere, with no buildup or subtext to justify it. Instead of heightening tension, it snaps you right out of the movie and derails whatever atmosphere the film was trying to maintain.
The character of Miss White, the pale-haired woman with white eyebrows who lurks throughout the film, is another strange misfire. She’s visually striking but unexplained for most of the runtime, and when the film finally acknowledges her, it almost feels self-aware in the worst way, like the movie is winking at its own nonsense. By then, it’s far too late.
What hurts the most is that HIM had all the right ingredients. Fame, sacrifice, obsession, and the cost of refusing to let go are compelling themes. The first two acts suggest this could have been something special. But the third act derails everything so completely that it leaves you confused rather than disturbed or satisfied.
Final Verdict
HIM is a missed opportunity. It’s worth watching for Marlon Wayans’ chilling villain turn and Tyriq Withers’ breakout performance, but the botched ending drags the entire experience down. If you’re curious, it’s fine for a streaming watch, but this one doesn’t demand immediate attention.