Him : The Dark Side to the Religion of Football
Him digs into the scarier and painful sides of the beloved American sport.
Monkeypaw Productions
Let’s get this out in the forefront, Him is a weird movie. It is not a very conventionally laid out story;but moreso a display of various moments of the main character Cameron’s (Tyriq Withers) life revolving around football. We see from the very beginning that worshipping the sport is ingrained in him from his family, more specifically by his father.
This doesn’t seem too crazy at first, because football movies typically have a wholesome “all American feel to it.” While growing up the pee-wee football movie Little Giants was one of my favorite watches; and Remember the Titans may just be one of the best sports movies of all time. As great as these movies are, they shy away from the dark physical and mental sides of the sport that Him unapologetically brings to the forefront..
Monkeypaw Productions
How Was the Movie?
I like Him, and I know that I may be part of a small percentage of viewers that enjoyed the film. I would’ve definitely liked more from the movie in structure and balance, but at the same time, I am not disappointed in it. Him gets its point across without being perfect, and it is an absolute conversation piece.
Film and television has introduced the hidden sides of football in more recent years, and it continues to be a complex and disturbing topic to say the least. Concussion with Will Smith sparked a lot of debate, which focused on the story of Dr. Bennet Omalu who discovered neurological deterioration while performing an autopsy on football player Mike Webster. There are also documentaries and dramas on Aaron Hernandez, who had confirmed CTE from repeated head trauma. There has also been speculation that O.J. Simpson could’ve possibly had CTE as well, but his brain was never studied to confirm this or not.
All of these men have histories of behavioral changes and anger; and Hernandez and Simpson have even gone to trial for murder cases. The subject of their guilt or innocence is for another time.
Him does dig into the concussions, confusion, and mental problems; but it also goes a bit deeper. The history and evolution of football is discussed, including a very interesting explanation on Indigenous children being forced to play brutal games of football while in boarding schools. Marlon Wayne’s character Isaiah White credits them with making the quarterback role what it is today, but in the same breath shows that they are not truly honored for this and became “mascots” instead (a callback to the former Redskins team name likely).
There are also interesting discussions and scenes on pain and suffering. Cam is hit with the question, “Would you rather never get tired or never get injured?” This prompts Cam and the viewer to think about what is more important in football when it comes to pushing your limits, and what does it truly take to become the greatest (G.O.A.T.) ?
These ideas and moments are laid out for us in strange styles, sprinkled with moments of comedic relief, but there is still a very serious conversation behind this film to be had.
Monkeypaw Productions
Best Parts About the Movie?
The Style and Imagery:
It’s not for everyone, but I do enjoy the style of this film. I loved seeing the injuries on the body in xray vision. The flashes of symbolic moments connecting to religious/cult imagery. The serious, but not too serious, tone. The blend of comedy, drama, and horror also works very well for the film. Other movies that I love have taken similar routes, such as The Substance with Demi Moore, which isn’t too far off from this film.
The Symbolism:
This film is full of symbolism to the point that I was almost annoyed with it, and that’s saying a lot because I love good symbolism.
Some of the standouts are the football team being named the Saviors, Isaiah is also the name of a Biblical prophet, and a large amount of the film takes place in the middle of the desert. Desert regions are known to be testing grounds of faith and survival, which is why so many religions are forged there. If you are a fan of the Dune franchise, you can see a good example of this type of symbolism in that story as well. Overall the film is trying to make valid points on the culture of football and it takes several meaningful opportunities to get those points across.
People really are truly obsessed with football and we need to question what makes this country treat this sport almost as if it is a religion. On one hand it brings people from various backgrounds together, but at what cost? Fans worship the athletes one moment, and just as easily hate them the next. Meanwhile, athletes are literally putting their physical and mental health on the line all for the love of the game.
Monkeypaw Productions
Is This Movie for You?
To enjoy Him, you should be open to strange and experimental films. This movie is also pretty graphic with gore, and the story structure can be confusing at times. One moment you will see Cam doing physical therapy, and the next moment we are in a brand new day in the middle of the desert.
The film also includes many seemingly exaggerated details and characters, but when you start thinking about what this film is really trying to say in relation to real life, you will understand that it’s not really that exaggerated at all.
If you are a die hard football fan, you may take offense to some of the things in this film or you may even be enlightened. It’s honestly all subjective, but I do think it’s a decent watch if you are open to an unorthodox take on the dark sides of football culture.
