Review – HIM (2025) is full of style but lacks substance Cinemax
Justin tip HIM is a horror film that never lacks ambition – only purpose. It’s clear from the first image that Tipping and his creative team set out to create a visually captivating experience. The cinematography is undeniably stunning: every shadow is intentional, every color palette carefully curated to evoke fear, unease or surreal beauty. But what HIM While it may lack aesthetic flair, it ultimately lacks narrative clarity and emotional grounding.
The film’s commitment to style over substance becomes its most glaring weakness. Almost every sequence is brimming with symbolic images and visual metaphors, but few of them ever achieve any real weight. About halfway through, fatigue sets in – not because the film isn’t trying, but because all of its visual devices never seem to be tied to a story with much at stake. The audience is exhausted, not enthusiastic.
Marlon Wayans delivers a great performance, bringing a grounded energy to his scenes that briefly breathes life into the film. Unfortunately, his efforts are marred by the flat and unconvincing lead role of Tyriq Withers. Withers seems overwhelmed by the film’s tone and narrative demands, and without a compelling focal point to anchor the story, Wayans’ performance takes a backseat.
What’s most frustrating is all of the artistic promise of HIMThe first two acts segue into a third act that feels both disjointed and rushed. What should be a satisfying addition to the film’s mysterious structure ends in a jumble of rushed exposition and half-baked revelations. The film tries to explain itself, but in the process undermines the eerie ambiguity it worked so hard to create.
HIM is a film that wants to be watched more than understood. For some, that might be enough. But for most, it’s a visually beautiful but ultimately hollow experience due to its lack of emotional resonance and a cohesive story.
