What would you sacrifice for greatness? It's the kind of question that's been drilled into every athlete, artist, and overachiever since the dawn of time. But what if the answer isn't just “everything,” but “your very soul”?
That's the unsettling, deeply Jordan Peele-esque vibe I'm getting from the new posters and trailer for the upcoming horror flick, Him. And man, what a trailer. Universal dropped the new footage and it's… intense. Seriously. I remember when I first saw the teaser for Get Out—that feeling of “this is different, this is going to be something.” This feels like that. It has that same confident swagger, that same unsettling blend of psychological dread and visceral terror.
The film, which hits theaters on September 19th, is a pure horror concept that revolves around football. Now, I'm not a huge sports guy, never have been, but even I can appreciate a good sports movie, especially when it goes completely off the rails. It's got that “something new” feeling. And in a genre that's, let's be honest, often recycling the same handful of ideas, that's a breath of fresh air. It's exactly why I love what Monkeypaw Productions has been doing. They find these wild, original concepts and just… run with them.
The setup is classic horror bait: a promising young football player named Cameron Cade (played by former wide-receiver Tyriq Withers) gets a career-threatening injury. Just when he thinks it's all over, his hero, the legendary quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans, looking absolutely chilling here), offers to take him under his wing. But Isaiah's training isn't just about throwing a ball; it's a chilling, chaotic journey into something much darker. The trailer flashes a mix of high-stakes football training and some truly demonic-looking imagery. The taglines—”Greatness demands sacrifice” and “Never meet your heroes”—are perfect. They tell you everything you need to know without giving anything away. It's a chilling journey into the inner sanctum of fame, idolatry, and the pursuit of excellence at any cost.
I have to say, the performance by Marlon Wayans here looks electric. He's been in some great dramatic roles lately, like in Air and Respect, and this seems like another one of those where he gets to just own the screen. He's not playing a caricature; he's playing a man who has made a deal with the devil, or maybe just believes he is the devil himself. The intensity is just… yeah. It's a lot. And the supporting cast—Julia Fox as Isaiah's celebrity influencer wife, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies—it's an eclectic, weird mix, which I'm honestly here for.
The whole thing feels like a Black List screenplay that just got lucky. And it did; it was written by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, with director Justin Tipping also getting a writing credit. Tipping, who previously directed the acclaimed film Kicks, seems to be bringing that same gritty, kinetic energy to this. It's a second feature that feels like a massive leap.
2025 is shaping up to be a defining year for horror, no doubt about it. We've already seen a couple of genuinely great ones, and with Him on the horizon, it's clear the genre is still evolving, still finding new ways to scare us. This movie looks like it's going to be a wild, unforgettable ride.
A Quick Look at the HIM Trailer and Posters
- A Familiar Formula, But Twisted: The film takes the classic sports-movie narrative—a young talent trains with a legendary mentor—and drenches it in horror. It's a smart subversion of a well-worn story type, making the audience question every cliché.
- Marlon Wayans, Unhinged: Wayans's portrayal of Isaiah White looks like a career-defining dramatic performance. His intense charisma and simmering darkness are the central forces driving the film's psychological tension.
- A Chilling Visual Language: The two posters released offer a perfect contrast. One shows a bloodied football player against a bright, sunny sky, while the other—much more unsettling—shows Wayans's character with what looks like a tear of blood, covered in championship rings. The imagery is specific, unique, and promises a film that's both brutal and surreal.
- Monkeypaw Productions' Midas Touch: Produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw, the film continues the company's trend of backing original, high-concept horror films that explore deeper social themes—in this case, the cost of fame and the nature of obsession.
- September 19th is the Date: The film is set to release nationwide on September 19th, 2025. It's positioned as a late-summer horror event, and frankly, it looks like it's going to deliver.
So, who's down? Are you ready for some football, Monkeypaw style?
