HIM Review: More Than the Critics Say

A scene from “HIM” shows the masked figure looming behind the protagonist (Cam) on the football field. (Courtesy/XYZ Films)

The movie “HIM” is better than the reviews suggest. While weighed down by negative criticism online, the film delivers a sharper and more layered experience. 

At its core, “HIM” follows a rising quarterback on the brink of his NFL dreams. With the draft only weeks away, all eyes are on him as he prepares to prove himself at the combine. But just when his career seems destined to take off, a devastating head injury alters everything. The scouts who once praised his arm strength and field vision begin to back away. 

From the crisp cinematography to the emotional weight of its storytelling, “HIM” is a must-see for football fans and general audiences. Its biggest drawback is the runtime. At just an hour and 36 minutes, the film feels too short for a subject story with this much emotional depth and cultural relevance. Still, the performances from actors Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans elevate the material. Their characters feel fully realized and their chemistry gives the story an authenticity that resonates.

The impression left on viewers will depend on what they expect from a football film. For those looking for high-energy game sequences and triumphant victories, “HIM” may feel subdued. The on-field moments are limited and the film chooses instead to linger on the quieter, more personal consequences of injury, ambition and expectation. But for audiences open to a more reflective take on sports storytelling, the film offers something worthwhile.

The complexity lies in how the story balances ambition and vulnerability. The quarterback’s fall from a projected star to an uncertain prospect reflects a broader truth about the fragility of athletic dreams. The movie does not shy away from the uncomfortable questions: What happens when the body fails? What does it mean to sacrifice everything for a system that may discard you at the first sign of weakness? These tensions drive “HIM” and separate it from more conventional sports dramas.

That uncertainty does not just test his body; it tests his spirit. For the first time, he is forced to imagine life without the game that has defined him since childhood. His confidence falters, relationships are strained and the pressure of expectation weighs heavier than ever. Yet just as the walls begin to close in, an unexpected opportunity arrives: an invitation to join the Saviors. The Saviors are not just any team. It is the franchise he and his father adored, the team whose star quarterback he idolized and dreamed of becoming. The offer feels like destiny, but it comes with the heavy burden of proving to the world and himself that he still belongs on the field.

Through this storyline, “HIM” explores more than the grind of professional sports. It examines resilience in the face of doubt, the complicated bond between fathers and sons and the sacrifices athletes make in the pursuit of greatness. Football becomes both a dream and a burden, showing how quickly an entire future can unravel with a single injury. It is more than just a sports drama. It is a meditation on identity, legacy and the cost of chasing something bigger than oneself.

Beneath the surface, “HIM” delivers a pointed critique of what athletes are forced to sacrifice. It is not just about training harder or recovering from setbacks. It is about the parts of oneself that must be surrendered in the pursuit of greatness. The film also raises critical questions about the experience of Black athletes in particular, who are often expected to give everything to powerful sports institutions that hold immense control over their futures. These organizations frequently treat players as commodities, while athletes tie their sense of worth to systems that can discard them at any moment.

The film also gestures toward the timeless warning: never meet your idol. The quarterback’s dream of joining the Saviors is built on admiration, nostalgia and the vision of greatness he saw as a child. But as he gets closer to that dream, the more complicated and darker it becomes. “HIM” forces audiences to sit with that tension: the gap between who someone appears to be and who they truly are and the cost of chasing shadows.