Damn. The new teaser trailer for Jordan Peele’s HIM movie took us on a wild ride. What starts as a sports movie steadily devolves into surreal, nightmarish, fever-dream mayhem. And we, as they say, are seated. Honestly, the teaser trailer for Peele’s HIM took us on more of a journey than some completed movies we’ve seen in the theaters. The point of view is strong, the story is compelling, and it’s at once totally simple and mind-blowingly complex. The juxtaposition of football and horror is also one we feel obsessed with. While for many, Football and sports, more generally, represent a wholesome, heart-filled endeavor, there’s no doubt that the professional athletics complex engenders fanatacism, bad habits, and, as HIM‘s trailer stresses, a ton of danger and sacrifice from the athletes who give their bodies and minds over to play.
You can check out the HIM teaser trailer for Jordan Peele below and find out what we’re talking about.
“Dig deep!” The HIM trailer advises, as it opens with scenes of the football world. There are sold-out arenas, major celebrations, and tough practices. The usual stuff… at first. Then the psychological horror starts hitting, and maybe some actual supernatural scenes appear before our eyes. “I’m never good enough,” The words echo through the trailer, as Cameron Cade, our star, comes to the conclusion that he might have to sacrifice everything to be truly “great.” On top of that, we see demonic-feeling entities dancing around, creepy masks on walls, and blood… lots of blood.
Alongside the HIM trailer, we also get a pretty thorough explanation of what’s going to happen in the movie. It might even verge on spoilery, so read this HIM synopsis at your own peril.
From Oscar® winner Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions, producers of the landmark horror films Get Out, Us, Candyman and Nope, comes a chilling journey into the inner sanctum of fame, idolatry and the pursuit of excellence at any cost, featuring an electrifying dramatic performance from Marlon Wayans (Air, Respect).
HIM stars former college wide-receiver Tyriq Withers (Atlanta, the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer) as Cameron Cade, a rising-star quarterback who has devoted his life, and identity, to football. On the eve of professional football’s annual scouting Combine, Cam is attacked by an unhinged fan and suffers a potentially career-ending brain trauma.
Just when all seems lost, Cam receives a lifeline when his hero, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), a legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar, offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife, Elsie White (Julia Fox; Uncut Gems, No Sudden Move). But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker, sending his protégé down a disorienting rabbit hole that may cost him more than he ever bargained for.
The film features a dynamic supporting cast including alternative comedy legend Tim Heidecker (First Time Female Director, Us) and Australian comic Jim Jefferies (The Jim Jefferies Show), plus MMA heavyweight fighter Maurice Greene and hip hop phenoms Guapdad 4000 and Grammy nominee Tierra Whack, all three in their feature film debuts.
HIM is directed by Justin Tipping (Kicks) from an acclaimed Black List screenplay by Zack Akers & Skip Bronkie (creators of the sci-fi crime series Limetown) and by Justin Tipping. The film is produced by Ian Cooper (Nope, Us), Jordan Peele (Candyman, BlacKkKlansman), Win Rosenfeld (Candyman, Lovecraft Country) and Jamal M. Watson (Hala, Sprinter) for Monkeypaw Productions and is executive produced by David Kern and Monkeypaw’s Kate Oh.
We guess we’ll have to dig deep as we wait for HIM to release on September 19. In the meantime, we’ll be rewatching the HIM trailer another hundred or so times.