Everybody wants to be somebody, but what are you willing to sacrifice to get there? That’s the question that Monkeypaw Productions’ new film Him asks its audience.

Released on Sept. 19, 2025, and directed by Justin Tipping, Him tackles its viewers with astonishing effects, beautiful cinematography and a carefully crafted script. While it doesn’t quite measure up to other Monkeypaw projects of the same genre, such as Get Out and Nope, it stands its ground as the youngest film in the established studio’s impressive catalogue.

Him follows the story of up-and-coming collegiate football star Cameron “Cam” Cade (Tyriq Withers) and how he finds himself wrapped up in a dark plot surrounding his idol, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). Under the weight of his dreams, Cam becomes drenched in blood, sweat and tears on his path to stardom. 

In the opening scene, a young Cam, alongside his family, watches as his favorite football team, the San Antonio Saviors, win the league championship game. The moment is fleeting, however, as the Saviors’ quarterback, Isaiah, suffers a brutal, possibly career-ending, injury whilst scoring the game-winning touchdown. Cam’s father chooses to take this moment to tell Cam that real men are willing to make sacrifices for what they want. This is an ideal that will haunt Cam throughout the rest of the feature. 

Jumping to Cam’s young adult years, he is now a very prominent star in college football, to such an extent that he is being hailed as “the next Isaiah White.” While training for the league combine late at night, Cam is struck in the head by someone wearing a goat costume. This leaves him with a career-threatening head injury and a splintered mind. 

Tom (Tim Heidecker), Cam’s agent who coincidentally happens to be Isaiah’s agent as well, tells Cam that Isaiah is contemplating retirement. He also relays that Isaiah has invited him to a week-long retreat at his property in the desert.

Every day at the retreat becomes increasingly demented as Isaiah puts Cam through constant physical and mental anguish via “training” until it all boils over at the climax. The ending is one audiences will be thinking about long after the credits roll.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

From start to finish, Him leaves its audience guessing what’s going to happen next, while also meticulously placing breadcrumbs to the truth throughout its well paced 96 minute run time. From his father’s shrine to the game that they’re watching, we see how, from the very beginning, Isaiah’s presence overshadows Cam’s very existence without him even being introduced as a character yet.

Something the film does well is address how toxic masculinity and the commoditization of athletes creates a dangerous environment for players and their families. Cam’s father, Isaiah, Tom and many other characters continue to tell Cam that he must be willing to make sacrifices in order to win. The phrase that Cam’s father engraves in his head at the top of the movie is “no guts, no glory” and that sentiment is repeated time and time again. 

There are also themes of peer pressure when Isaiah and his personal doctor, Marco (Jim Jefferies), constantly offer Cam a “hit” of Isaiah’s blood; the blood of Him. This could be adjacent to how some athletes feel pressured to use performance enhancing drugs to help them reach an upper echelon.

Just like in real life, this metaphorical drug has its kickbacks. Cam begins having daily hallucinations that break his mind until he’s ready for the film’s climax. 

Since the moment they met, Isaiah has been grooming Cam for a cultic ritual. As it turns out, the blood of Him doesn’t mean the blood of Isaiah. No, the blood and title of Him is a manufactured one that has been passed down through generations of players all hailed as “the chosen one”. The blood transfusions that were being performed on Cam by Marco throughout the movie were part of this ritual and were meant to prepare him for this very moment. 

Isaiah reveals to Cam that his contract is up at the end of the year and the Saviors need a quarterback. Cam recognizes that this means that only one can leave. Similar to the gladiator battles that Marco had been alluding to earlier, Cam and Isaiah brawl.

After having his left arm broken in the fight, Cam rallies and kills his idol. This “sacrifice” sets Cam on the path to achieve everything that he’s ever wanted. Without getting into spoiler territory for the bloody finale, Cam discovers the truth and makes what feels like the first real choice that he’s been given in his entire life. 

With a show stealing performance by Marlon Wayans, a brave new direction from Justin Tipping and stunning cinematography from Kira Kelly, Him sets out to make a name for itself without all of the sacrifices attached. Despite receiving scathing criticism from critics and low scores on Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes, Him is, above all else, a good cinematic experience. While not perfect, it at least scores that first down.

Grade: 6/10