Written by Ashley Weinberger. Header illustration courtesy of Xinting Li (@wakesometimelse).
As an avid horror fan, it takes a lot for a film to really stick with me. Since seeing Justin Tipping’s new film “Him,” I’ve found myself replaying key scenes in my head repeatedly. Screened alongside an incredible lineup of highly anticipated films, “Him” easily makes my 2025 SCAD Savannah Film Festival top three. An underrated gem, the film stars Marlon Wayans, Julia Fox, and the up-and-coming Tyriq Withers. Tipping delivers a unique story. Meanwhile, director of photography Kira Kelly and editor Taylor Mason showcase one-of-a-kind work in their respective fields.
After suffering a concussion and near traumatic brain injury, “Him” follows protagonist Cameron “Cam” Cade. As a rising star quarterback destined for greatness, he trains for his dream team, the San Antonio Saviors, under his football idol and fellow quarterback Isaiah White. Withers debuts an exceptional performance, portraying a character who struggles to differentiate hallucination from reality. We follow his journey as his seemingly normal training spirals downward into what can only be described as a true nightmare. Withers’s performance is nothing short of incredible and shows that he truly is a star in the making.
In company with Withers’ execution of Cameron Cade, Marlon Wayans’s portrayal of Isaiah White is equally as impressive as it is scary. I am mostly familiar with Wayans’s work in comedies such as “White Chicks” (2004). His role in “Him” displays incredible range, playing a character who refuses to accept the end of his career, and will go to any length to get it back. A complete 180 from “White Chicks” Marcus Copeland, Isaiah White is intimidating and convincing. Wayans’s execution is nothing short of spine-chilling.
Julia Fox also gives a tremendous performance. Without giving too much away, what seems like your everyday WAG (wives and girlfriends of athletes), Fox’s character Elsie White becomes an incredible and crucial role in her husband Isaiah’s scheme. While Fox’s performance seems surface level in the first half of the film, she makes a complete 180 towards the end. To no surprise, Fox delivers a killer and hilarious performance despite her short amount of screen time.
In addition to the acting , cinematographer Kira Kelly implements brilliant and strong camera work. I had the opportunity of attending a Q &A with Kelly, where she gave us insight into her experience on this film. Kelly uses classic suspense angles, such as extreme close ups and symmetry to create simple but effective discomfort amongst viewers. She also utilizes carefully crafted techniques when capturing more physical and sport-related scenes, implementing a camera attached to Withers’s chest to gather physical shots that still match the overall tone of the film. While she described using two or three cameras during the shoot, she also shared how most of the film was shot by a single camera, contributing to the film’s uncanny and unexpected cinematography.
Parallel to Kira Kelly, is the extraordinary Taylor Mason. With assistant editing credits on “Dune: Part One” and “Blade Runner 2049,” it is no surprise that Mason’s work on “Him” is one-of-a-kind. Mason displays her technique by including incredible X-Ray vision style shots and inserts. Her transitions include rapid montages, slowed down and lingering cuts, and quick edits. Much like what Cameron is experiencing, Mason’s editing leaves viewers questioning whether or not what they just saw was actually there.
Despite a plethora of negative reviews, I left the theater pleasantly surprised with “Him.” A twisted and energetic story of football and fear, enhanced by performance, cinematography, and editing. Tipping shares a unique story combining two worlds that you wouldn’t think go together so well. If you enjoy football or horror, this is definitely a film to check out.
