Justin Tipping’s ‘HIM’ Peels Back the Artifice of the American Athlete

Buffalo Bills’ former wide receiver Stefon Diggs zigzags across the field, with lightning-fast footwork advancing to the end zone for a touchdown. The stadium erupts in celebration. “I’m him!” screams Diggs. “I’m him!” His bravado, the type of ego that carries an entire team to greatness, is equal parts artifice and rage-fueled testosterone at work. Justin Tipping’s (Kicks, 2016) new horror film HIM, produced by Jordan Peele and his company Monkeypaw Productions, holds a magnifying glass to this familiar trope. The genre-bending film explores the terrors athletes are willing to endure to achieve celebrity, status and eternal recognition, seen through the lens of Cameron Cade, played by former college wide receiver Tyriq Withers.

In a dramatic detour from the realm of comedy, actor Marlon Wayans stars as the lead antagonist, Isaiah White, an eight-time Champion quarterback and cultural behemoth, backed by his media-trained wife, Elsie, performed by Julia Fox. Isaiah has dedicated his life and body to football, enlisting Cameron to become his protégée. But the lines between excellence and madness blur as Isaiah incrementally tests the bounds of Cameron’s physical aptitude. A career-defining role, the comedic actor, known for Scary Movie (2000) and White Chicks (2004), showcases the depth of his artistic arsenal, delivering a chilling, emotionally charged performance as his character undergoes physical and psychological changes to maintain his legacy at all costs. Notable co-stars include Tim Heidecker (First Time Female Director, Us), Grammy-nominated artist Tierra Whack, former MMA heavyweight fighter Maurice Greene and hip-hop artist Guapdad 4000 — all three of whom make their feature film debut.

Tippings, who co-wrote the script with Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, nods to the body horror genre with eerie, unnerving cinematography and visceral sound effects, fusing these elements with kinetic, fast-paced sports action sequences. Produced by Jordan Peele, HIM basks in a hyper-visual universe that presents layered, nuanced themes regarding how athletes become cultural commodities held to extreme, inhuman standards. A thought-provoking deconstruction of the athlete-to-superstar pipeline, HIM is not your ordinary horror flick.

Check out Marlon Wayans’ cover story, where he opens up about preparing for the role. Don’t miss out on the debut of HIM in domestic theaters starting September 19.