Few contemporary filmmakers have a visual language as distinctive as Trey Edward Shults. From the suffocating familial tension of Krisha to the nightmarish dread of It Comes at Night, his films aren't just seen—they're experienced. With Hurry Up Tomorrow, his latest collaboration with Abel Tesfaye (aka The Weeknd), Shults seems poised to push his stylistic boundaries even further. The newly released trailer teases an enigmatic psychological thriller, rich in existential weight and trippy, sci-fi-infused visuals.
A Story of Music, Insomnia, and Identity
In Hurry Up Tomorrow, Tesfaye stars as an unnamed musician battling insomnia and personal demons. His restless existence takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a mysterious woman, played by Jenna Ortega, who pulls him into a surreal odyssey that threatens to unravel his very identity. The film also features Barry Keoghan as Lee and Paul L. Davis as Lavi, adding further intrigue to its already compelling premise.
Shults describes the film as “a mix of psychological thriller and drama,” emphasizing its unique approach to storytelling. “I honestly feel like I've never seen a movie quite like it,” he told Entertainment Weekly in an exclusive first look. Given Shults' history of crafting intimate yet visually grand narratives, this claim only heightens expectations.
A Psychedelic Visual Feast
The trailer itself is a hypnotic blend of neon-soaked imagery, cryptic dialogue, and a pulsating electronic score. It suggests a film that oscillates between the dreamlike and the apocalyptic, the deeply personal and the terrifyingly vast. Shades of Enter the Void and Black Swan come to mind, with flashes of The Neon Demon in its unrelenting stylistic ambition. The Weeknd, fresh off his divisive HBO project The Idol, seems to be embracing a more layered, enigmatic role—perhaps one closer to his real-life persona than anything he's played before.
The Creative Forces Behind the Film
Co-written by Shults, Tesfaye, and Reza Fahim, Hurry Up Tomorrow promises a narrative that is as much about self-discovery as it is about unraveling reality. Tesfaye and Fahim also serve as producers alongside Kevin Turen and Harrison Kreiss, while Lionsgate is set to distribute the film in theaters starting May 16, 2025.
Given the involvement of Tesfaye—who has built a career on weaving melancholic narratives into his music—it's likely that Hurry Up Tomorrow will feature an equally haunting and immersive soundtrack. If the trailer's score is any indication, audiences are in for a sonically and visually mesmerizing experience.
Personal Impressions:
If Shults' past work is any indication, Hurry Up Tomorrow will be anything but conventional. The fusion of psychological thriller, sci-fi aesthetics, and deeply introspective themes is a tantalizing prospect. Tesfaye's involvement adds an intriguing layer of metatextuality—playing a musician seemingly grappling with his own identity blurs the lines between fiction and reality in ways that could be profoundly affecting.
Shults has an uncanny ability to tap into the human psyche, exploring themes of grief, paranoia, and emotional unraveling. With Hurry Up Tomorrow, he seems to be diving even deeper, and the results could be electrifying.
Are you excited for Hurry Up Tomorrow? Do you think Abel Tesfaye's transition to leading roles will redefine his career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
