Welcome to “Anatomy of a Scene,” where we pull back the curtain on filmmaking and ask directors to share the hidden depths and decisions behind pivotal moments in their movies. You can find more episodes in this series by searching online.
How far would you go to achieve greatness, especially when your mentor pushes you to your limits? The unsettling horror film “HIM” explores this question with a chilling answer, revealing how ambition can quickly spiral into terror.
Directed by the visionary Justin Tipping, the story centers on Cameron Cade, a promising young football player portrayed by Tyriq Withers, who joins the professional ranks. There, he falls under the tutelage of veteran Isaiah White, brought to life by Marlon Wayans. What begins as a mentorship soon veers into something far more sinister.
In a particularly intense sequence, Tipping unveils a meticulously crafted drill designed to sharpen a quarterback’s decision-making and throwing accuracy. However, in this twisted training regimen, every misstep carries brutal, unforeseen consequences, blurring the lines between instruction and torment.
Tipping reveals his intention to create a dramatic shift in tone during this scene. “There’s going to be a big tonal shift, from something’s off to something’s very wrong,” he explains. It’s here that the film first introduces overt violence, laying bare a disturbing dynamic between the two characters. This relationship quickly transforms from a mentor-mentee bond into something deeply narcissistic and abusive, subtly disguised beneath the veneer of rookie hazing.
The escalating tension is masterfully built through the scene’s pacing. Tipping describes striving for a rhythmic edit – “one, two, three; one, two, three; snap, turn, throw” – with the sound design mirroring this pulse. The metallic clanking and vibrations from the JUGS machine grow increasingly frantic, amplifying the sense of dread. This deliberate rhythm is then jarringly subverted each time Cameron falters, leading to a horrifying outcome for a teammate.
To further immerse the audience in Cameron’s escalating panic, Tipping employs extreme, tight close-ups on his eyes. This creative choice intentionally taps into the visual language of horror, evoking a classic “peekaboo” sensation that ratchets up the psychological impact.
This pivotal scene, Tipping notes, is a careful blend of “seeding in psychological horror and body horror at the same time,” ensuring that the audience feels the profound shift from unease to outright terror.
You can find reviews of “HIM” and features about the film’s making in major film publications. Also, consider subscribing to film newsletters for movie news, reviews, and critic recommendations.