Jordan Peele has made a career out of reimagining horror with a brain. From Get Out to Us to Nope, his films dig deep into our collective fears—and now he’s stepping back into the genre as a producer with a new nightmare: HIM. The just-released trailer is already sparking serious buzz, and it poses a chilling question that lingers long after the final frame: What are you willing to sacrifice?
Starring Marlon Wayans in a role unlike anything you’ve seen from him before, HIM is shaping up to be the next psychological thriller people can’t stop talking about. It’s sinister, stylish, and soaked in dread—and we’re here for it.
A Cult of Greatness
At the heart of HIM is Cameron Cade (played by Tyriq Withers), a college football phenom whose future is crushed by a devastating brain injury. As his career slips away, he’s offered a second chance by the one man he idolizes: Isaiah White (Wayans), a legendary quarterback with eight championships under his belt and an almost mythical status in the world of sports.
Isaiah invites Cameron to his private compound to train—but the trailer quickly makes it clear that this isn’t just about football. It’s about control, obsession, and something darker lurking beneath the surface. The slogan “Greatness demands sacrifice” appears again and again, as Isaiah’s mentorship slides into manipulation, and Cameron begins seeing disturbing visions he can’t explain.
Horror Meets Hustle Culture
What sets HIM apart is its setting: a luxurious but claustrophobic facility that feels more like a cult compound than a training ground. Shot in the eerie desert landscapes of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the film’s atmosphere is soaked in dread. Isaiah’s grip over his team is total. They chant. They obey. They fear. And Cameron, once hungry for a comeback, begins questioning not only Isaiah’s methods—but his own sanity.
In one jarring scene from the trailer, Cameron is crucified on a pentagram painted onto a football field, drenched in blood and confusion. It’s clear that HIM is not just about sports—it’s about submission, obsession, and the cost of chasing greatness.
Peele, even while stepping back from the director’s chair, brings his signature psychological unease. Like Get Out tackled race and Nope critiqued spectacle, HIM goes after hustle culture and the cult of high performance. This time, football’s “no days off” ethos becomes literal horror.
A Genre-Bending Cast
Marlon Wayans is the film’s wild card—and he’s already turning heads. Known for his comedic work in Scary Movie and White Chicks, Wayans completely disappears into Isaiah White. Charismatic, intense, and deeply disturbing, this could be a career-redefining performance.
Tyriq Withers brings authenticity and intensity to Cameron Cade. A former college wide receiver turned actor (Atlanta, The Game), Withers channels real athleticism and emotional weight. The supporting cast is just as eclectic: Julia Fox plays Isaiah’s influencer wife; Tim Heidecker and Jim Jefferies appear as trainers; and there are cameos from rapper Guapdad 4000, hip-hop artist Tierra Whack, and even MMA fighter Maurice Greene. It’s a cultural collage of sports, music, and madness.
Directed by Justin Tipping
HIM is helmed by Justin Tipping, best known for his indie film Kicks and episodes of The Chi and Joe vs. Carole. He co-wrote the screenplay with Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, whose original script (GOAT) landed on the Black List before catching the attention of Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions. Tipping brings a dreamlike quality to the film, full of wide-angle shots, moody lighting, and a nerve-shredding score.
The tone of the film shares similarities with the so-called “elevated horror” movement, seen in films like Hereditary or The Babadook. HIM carves its own path, however, by embedding this horror within the world of athletic ambition.
Early Buzz
The trailer alone has already sparked buzz, with entertainment outlets calling it one of the most disturbing and thought-provoking horrors of the year. With Jordan Peele’s name attached and a premise that blends sports with psychological terror, HIM is shaping up to be a must-watch for horror fans and cinephiles alike.
The central question—“What are you willing to sacrifice?”—echoes throughout the trailer and lingers long after. For Cameron, it might mean his body, mind, or even his soul. For viewers, it’s an invitation to reflect on the pressures we internalize in pursuit of greatness
When and Where to Watch
HIM is set to release in theaters on September 19, 2025, and if the trailer is any indication, it’s going to be one of the most talked-about horror films of the year.
Until then, the question remains: What are you willing to sacrifice?
