How Netflix Made Everybody Stream A Mediocre Movie

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 26 seconds ago

There’s no denying that Jordan Peele is one of the great horror directors of the last 10 years. Get Out, Us, and Nope were all hits. That’s why fans were so excited when HIM was announced. Jordan Peele’s name was all the marketing, the name fit alongside the rest of his filmography, and the first trailer looked like the same striking horror imagery he perfected.

The horror film, now available on Netflix, was only produced by Peele. You’ll still find plenty of people today who think he wrote and directed the film, which is a shame, because if he did, it would be a better film. 

HIM Has No Time For Subtlety

HIM follows Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers, a former college football player turned actor) as the promising young player derailed by a vicious attack from a psycho wearing a goat mask. To get back on track, he goes to the remote compound of his idol, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), and takes part in a series of bizarre drills. There’s obviously something wrong with White and the compound, which might as well include a large neon arrow pointing to the horned skull on the wall when the two first meet. 

The meat of HIM follows Cam training at the compound, meeting the bizarre group of hangers-on and assistants that surround Isiah, including his social-media influencer wife (Julia Fox) and doctor Marco (comedian Jim Jeffries), oh, and the star’s crazed fans, outright described as a “cult” by Isiah’s team. It’s supposed to be tense, with the horror slowly escalating, but it’s done with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Instead of going along for the ride, you’re waiting for the twist you can see coming the moment you see the team’s name, The Saviors. 

HIM Needed Streaming To Be A Hit

What makes HIM interesting isn’t its slow burn plot, it’s how it looks. Cam is centered in most of the shots, putting us inside his head as he tries to make sense of the growing insanity around him. It’s a unique way to frame a movie, and the best performance by the back of an actor’s head since The Wrestler. HIM should be better than it is, but there’s something missing. 

There are moments of bizarre silliness: Singing over a downed teammate’s body, Cam’s strange hallucinations, and the entire third act. By the time HIM pays off, the audience is checked out.

Critics and fans on Rotten Tomatoes agree, with a 36 percent and 58 percent rating, respectively. During its brief theatrical run, the film barely recouped its $27 million budget, earning $28 million, yet since debuting on Netflix this month, it’s been in the streamer’s top ten. People want to give it a chance, but they just don’t want to pay movie theater prices. 

I wanted to enjoy HIM, which at least dared to try something different in an increasingly sanitized Hollywood. I’m also a sucker for gothic horror. The edges of the film that hint at something dark and disturbing boiling beneath the surface make a promise the gore-filled, bonkers finale can’t live up to. Jordan Peele’s films leave the audience with plenty of questions, but HIM’s largest question is, “What did I just watch?”

HIM is now on Netflix.