A Gridiron Nightmare: Unpacking the Chilling Fusion of 'Him'
In this episode of *Movies First*, Chris and Jessica tackle the perplexing blend of sports and horror in the film *Him*, where an NFL legend's dark secrets collide with psychological terror. As they dissect this ambitious genre mashup, the hosts ponder the implications of a young football prospect, Cameron Cade, being mentored by the sinister former quarterback Isaiah White, played by Marlon Wayans. The film's premise raises eyebrows as it explores themes of isolation within a remote training compound, echoing the privileged bubbles athletes often inhabit.
Listeners will be intrigued by the discussion surrounding the film's depiction of the extremes athletes endure, from hyperbaric chambers to experimental treatments, making the supernatural elements feel almost redundant. Chris and Jessica highlight Wayans' unexpected intensity, drawing parallels to Jordan Peele's successful transition from comedy to horror, while also noting the effective casting of Tyrek Withers as the rookie who transforms from starstruck to terrified.
The episode delves into the film's commentary on sports culture, examining how society dehumanizes athletes while idolizing them, and the hosts reflect on the brutal training sequences that mirror real-life pressures faced by professional athletes. They argue that the movie's missed opportunity lies in its failure to build tension through realism before introducing supernatural elements, which could have made the horror feel more organic.
Ultimately, *Him* serves as a cautionary tale about the dark side of sports and the challenges of blending genres. With a disappointing score of 3 out of 10, Chris and Jessica lament the film's inability to convey meaningful commentary on the real horrors lurking within professional sports, reminding listeners that sometimes the scariest stories are the ones rooted in reality.
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This episode includes AI-generated content.
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Chris: Sports movies and horror films seem like
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complete opposites. But what happens when you
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combine an NFL legend's dark secrets with
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psychological terror? Today's film,
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him attempts to answer that question, though
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the results are more frightening than anyone
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intended.
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Jessica: That's such an interesting genre mashup to
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attempt. When I heard Marlon Wayans was
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cast as this sinister former quarterback, I
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was genuinely intrigued by how they'd pull it
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off.
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Chris: Well, on paper, it's, uh, a compelling
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premise. You've got this young football
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prospect, Cameron Cade, getting the
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opportunity of a lifetime to train with eight
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time champion Isaiah White. Think of it like
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Tom Brady offering to mentor a rookie. Except
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this mentorship comes with a side of
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psychological torture and mysterious blood
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injections.
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Jessica: The isolation aspect really stands out to me.
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Setting it in this remote compound where
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White lives with his influencer wife. It's
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reminiscent of how real athletes often live
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in these privilege bubbles cut off from
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normal society.
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Chris: You know what's fascinating? In real sports,
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we've seen athletes go to incredible
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extremeshyperbaric chambers,
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experimental treatments, bizarre dietary
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restrictions. The reality is often
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stranger than fiction, which makes the
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movie's supernatural elements feel almost
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unnecessary.
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Jessica: Hmm, that's actually a really good point
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about reality versus fiction. They could have
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drawn from actual sports scandals and still
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achieved their horror elements.
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Chris: Let's talk about Marlon Wayans for a moment,
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because his casting is genuinely inspired.
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He brings this unexpected intensity that
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makes you believe he could be this legendary
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quarterback hiding dark secrets.
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It's similar to how Jordan Peele successfully
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transitioned from comedy to horror. The
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Wyons is doing it as an actor rather than a
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director.
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Jessica: The casting of Tyrek Withers as Cam really
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works too. Uh, you can feel his
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transformation from starstruck rookie to
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terrified prisoner. But then they made some
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interesting choices with the supporting cast.
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Chris: Oh, man. Like casting Jim Jeffries,
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an Australian comedian known for brash
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standup, as a serious sports medicine
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doctor. It's like they're making two
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different movies simultaneously. And
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Julia Fox, as Isaiah's wife, feels
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completely disconnected from the story
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they're trying to tell.
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Jessica: So what do you think they were actually
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trying to say about sports culture with this
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film?
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Chris: Well, there are these fascinating threads
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about fan culture and how we turn athletes
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into modern day gods. Think about real
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sports fans who send death threats after
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missed plays or burn jerseys after
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trades. That's genuine horror right there.
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The way we dehumanize these athletes while
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simultaneously worshiping them.
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Jessica: The training sequences really hammer that
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home too. The way they show these brutal
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practice sessions where free agents end up
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bloodied and beaten it reflects something
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real about how we treat athletes as
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disposable.
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Chris: Exactly. In professional sports,
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we regularly see players pushed past their
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physical limits, playing through injuries,
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taking whatever substances they can legally
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get their hands on. The movie takes this to
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an extreme, but the foundation of that
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horror is absolutely rooted in reality.
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Jessica: M that's what makes this such a frustrating
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viewing experience. All the elements
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for a genuine sports horror story were right
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there. The pressure, the isolation,
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the physical toll, the psychological
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manipulation.
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Chris: You know what might have made this work
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better? If they had taken a more subtle
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approach, really building the tension through
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the realistic aspects before introducing any
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supernatural elements. Show us how
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these athletes are isolated from their
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support systems, pushed to compromise
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their values bit by bit,
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transformed by the pressure and expectations.
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Jessica: That kind of gradual build would have made
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any horror elements feel more earned, more
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organic to the story they were trying to
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tell.
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Chris: In the end, him serves as a cautionary tale
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about both the dark side of sports and the
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challenges of genre blending and filmmaking.
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Sometimes the most effective horror comes
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from holding up a mirror to reality rather
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than trying to create something supernatural.
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The real tragedy isn't just that this movie
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fails to deliver on its premise. It's that
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it missed an opportunity to say something
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meaningful about the very real horrors that
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exist in professional sports.
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Jessica: That's really the perfect way to sum it up.
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Sometimes the scariest stories are the ones
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we already know. They just need to be told
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the right way. Score wise, we can only give
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this one a three out of ten.
