Universal has released the trailer for HIM, a new sports-horror produced by Get Out and Us‘ Jordan Peele and his company Monkeypaw.
Things start off as it was your typical sports drama, following a rising star quarterback (played by Tyriq Withers) under the tutelage of a tough coach (played by Marlon Wayans).
He is determined to be the best, and his training regime is edited to look like a very mechanical cycle of waking up early, working out in the desert, working out in the gym, working out some more. “‘You’re never good enough, you’re never good enough.’ That’s how great people think,” the voiceover states.
Things take a turn when two players butt heads, as the visuals turn to an X-ray effect.
The trailer then starts mixing sports visuals with some satanic cult imagery. We see a strange figure wearing a hat wielding a weapon in the desert, a party with scantily-clad women in red and a figure wearing what looks like a bronze medieval barbuta helmet, strange faces in the wall, an outdoor ritual, someone wearing an animal head, and lots of blood.
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The final shot shows our bloodied protagonist standing in a football field, raising his arms in a Jesus-esque fashion, and standing in front of a satanic-looking star symbol.
When the trailer was shown at CinemaCon before being released online, Withers explained (via Deadline) that the filmmakers “were intrigued about live sports with horror, something that felt memorable, unique and burrows under the skin”.
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He added: “You have never ever seen Marlon like this ever, ever, ever.”
The film also stars Uncut Gems‘ Julia Fox and comedians Tim Heidecker and Jim Jefferies, while Joe vs Carole‘s Justin Tipping served as director.
HIM will be released in UK cinemas on September 25.
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