Ken Russell Goes to the Super Bowl
Like many horror fans, I was immediately drawn in by the visually striking trailers for HIM, the Jordan Peele–produced, Justin Tipping–directed film, and quickly added it to my must-see list. However, the divisive reaction upon its theatrical release kept me at arm’s length. Now that the film has arrived on home video in 4K UHD, I finally gave it a watch—and I’m glad I did. What I found was not only an extremely intelligent, phantasmagoric, and surprisingly objective examination of toxic masculinity through the lens of American sports culture, but also a clear understanding of why that approach might scare some viewers off. We’ve normalized a nearly fanatical devotion to sports for generations, where sacrifice of everything in the name of winning is so deeply ingrained in American culture that questioning it can feel tantamount to treason.
HIM follows rising football star Cameron “Cam” Cade (Tyriq Withers), who is practicing late one night ahead of a major scouting event when he’s brutally attacked by an overzealous fan, leaving him with a severe head injury. Determined to prove he’s still fit to go pro—and worthy of recruitment by his dream team, the Saviors—Cam is invited by his hero, veteran quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), to train for a week at White’s secluded compound. Cam grew up idolizing Isaiah, who is not only contemplating retirement but also preparing to pass the fate of his franchise to the young upstart who has trained his entire life for this moment. Each day at the compound is designed to mold Cam into the next G.O.A.T.(Greatest of all Time), but things quickly veer into the sinister and surreal, leaving us unsure whether Cam’s experiences stem from his injury or something far more nefarious.
I suspect HIM’s divisiveness stems from how mercilessly it goes after not just sports culture and the NFL, but broader American ideals of hyper-masculinity, teamwork, and athletic excellence. Through a surreal horror lens, the film deconstructs concepts typically framed as unquestionably positive. The portrayal of sports fandom—while exaggerated to near-cult levels—doesn’t feel entirely off the mark. As someone from Philly, it didn’t seem that far-fetched to me (Go Birds!). This fanaticism is embodied by a group of face-painted devotees who live outside White’s compound, clad in team gear and willing to do absolutely anything—even die—for their hero. As someone who’s never fully embraced sports culture, the depiction felt disturbingly accurate at times.
While Tyriq Withers delivers a solid, grounded performance as Cam, it’s Marlon Wayans who steals nearly every scene he’s in. Many will associate Wayans primarily with his comedic work (Scary Movie, Don’t Be a Menace), and while flashes of that persona surface here, it’s worth remembering he also appeared in Requiem for a Dream. In HIM, he effortlessly oscillates between humor and menace, often aided by Julia Fox as White’s influencer wife. Fox continues to prove herself a uniquely versatile character actor—charismatic, unsettling, and deeply weird in the best way possible. Her character’s layers, particularly regarding race and status, are both unexpected and integral to the film’s unsettling power.
The 4K UHD presentation is flawless, boasting a pristine reference quality digital transfer and an impressive slate of bonus features—something increasingly rare in today’s physical media landscape. Alongside a director’s commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, and an alternate ending, the extras add just enough additional madness to further deepen the experience. Check out the full bonus features below:
- Alternate Ending: Zay’s Nightmare
- Deleted End Credits Scene: Food or Freedom
- Deleted Scenes
- Becoming Them – Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans didn’t just train like athletes — they learned to think like them. From strict diets and daily workouts to meditation sessions and leadership drills, we explore how these two actors didn’t just play the part—they lived it.
- The Sport of Filmmaking – From integrated lighting and military grade thermal cameras to detailed prosthetics and elevated sets, see how everything came together to create a film as spiritual as it is cinematic.
- Anatomy of a Scene:
- Rebirth
- A Diabolical Game of Catch
- Hymns of a G.O.A.T. – Go behind the scenes with composer Bobby Krlic as he heightens the film’s psychological edge through score—layering aggressive textures, foreboding tensions, and atmospheric sound design that heighten every moment.
- Feature Commentary with Director/Co-Writer Justin Tipping
HIM feels like a modern Ken Russell film filtered through the brutal spectacle of American football, presenting our national sports obsession through an unflinching, grotesque, blood-soaked point of view. It’s easy to understand why this might hit too close to home for some or leave others feeling alienated by its portrayal of deeply ingrained American ideologies. That discomfort, however, is precisely the point. Tipping not only examines but actively deconstructs this culture using the same visual language found in sports commercials and documentaries. If, like me, you were initially put off by the polarized reactions, I hope this provides some context. For those seeking challenging, transgressive cinema, HIM is well worth your time.
