Credit: Netflix

One of the biggest releases on Netflix this week is Him, and it took literally seconds for this film to steal all the spotlight on Twitter.

Funny thing is, this isn’t even a brand-new film, releasing in 2025, but now that it has hit Netflix, it’s getting a whole new wave of attention. Those who missed it in the theatres are finally getting the chance to stream it, and those who were unaware of its existence (which, in all fairness, seems impossible) are discovering it anew.

And honestly, people going gaga over it makes sense, because this film isn’t exactly easy to ignore. Initially, it might feel like your typical sports story, and it should, considering it has all the elements of a sports drama. You have American football and a young player with big dreams. Sounds like the perfect mix for a sports drama recipe, right? But then come the elements that will knock your socks off: the psychology and horror. If we’re being real, it is scary, and this rare mix alone is enough to catch people off guard because bringing together these two genres sounds like eating French fries with ice cream: it sounds odd, but tastes great.

Coming to the story, it starts with Cameron ‘Cam’ Cade, who is a young guy with loads of potential and a proper future ahead of him, until a serious head injury throws everything into doubt. Just when things are looking a bit bleak, in comes Isaiah White, a former star quarterback with a big reputation, someone who clearly knows the game, offering to train Cam privately to help him get back on track.

Now, on the surface, that sounds like exactly what Cam needs, right? Someone experienced and confident, someone who has been there before. Naturally, he takes the offer and heads out to this remote training facility, and here is where the plot twists. The training starts off intense, which you’d expect, but it doesn’t stay normal for long. It goes beyond just physical work and starts pulling Cam into heavy psychological pressure. He is totally isolated and is almost cut off from everything else, and the way everything is structured, it starts to feel a bit controlled, like there is more going on here than just training.

Following this, Cam begins experiencing visions. It’s these moments where you can’t quite tell what’s real and what’s not. At the same time, Isaiah’s behaviour becomes more extreme. Now, he is not just pushing Cam anymore, but it feels like he is trying to shape him and control him; the mentor-student relationship is long gone. As all of this is happening, we, along with Cam, realise that this is not just about football anymore, but about success and what it actually costs to reach that level. You start seeing how far someone might be willing to go just to hold onto their future without caring about the price they have to pay for it.

Tyriq Withers plays Cam, and you can really see that change in him as things take place at different stages in the film, but it is Marlon Wayans as Isaiah who is really something, showing an intensity to him, a sense of control that makes you doubt him for everything he’s doing. Additionally, we also have Julia Fox showing up as Elsie.

Now you must wonder whether it’s worth all the hype or not, and this is the point where you might observe the views splitting. The film does a lot, and there’s no doubt there. You have all this psychological stuff going on, but it’s not quite self-explanatory, so you might think you’ve got it at points, but there are high chances that how you understand it is something entirely different to what is happening. Some people like that, though; it makes it more interesting and gives you something to think about afterwards, while others end up feeling a bit confused, like it didn’t land what it was trying to do, and that is evident in how people are reacting to it. Some people are really into the idea and the performances, like they get what it is trying to do. But at the same time, others are saying the story doesn’t always come together properly.

But funnily enough, that is also what’s keeping it in the spotlight right now. People are watching it just to figure out where they stand. Is it clever? Is it confusing? Maybe a bit of both. Either way, it’s got people talking, and that is a big reason why it is sitting in that trending section. At the end of the day, Him has a strong idea, and there is no doubt about it. It is trying something a bit different, and even if it doesn’t make sense to everyone, it still offers an experience that stands out. If you are into psychological stories that leave you thinking, you might actually enjoy it. If you’re looking for something straightforward, though, this might not be it.