Jordan Peele is back in the horror mix—this time behind the scenes. The trailer for Him, a new sports-meets-satanic cult thriller from his Monkeypaw Productions, dropped on April 18, and it’s wild. What starts as a classic underdog football story takes a sharp left turn into blood rituals, brain trauma, and Marlon Wayans going full dark mode. If Peele’s name is on it, you know it’s not going to be what you expect—and Him is no exception.
What the Trailer Shows Us
The Him trailer kicks off like a straight-laced sports drama. We meet Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers), a young quarterback on the cusp of NFL greatness, training hard for the Combine and dreaming big. Then—bam—he’s attacked by an unhinged fan, left with a serious head injury, and suddenly his football future looks like it’s slipping through his fingers.
That’s when Isaiah White steps in. Played by Marlon Wayans—yes, that Marlon Wayans—Isaiah is a living legend in the football world: eight-time champ, cultural icon, and apparently, a guy with his own high-security training compound in the middle of nowhere. Isaiah offers to help Cam rebuild, physically and mentally. And at first, it all seems like a dream opportunity.
But it doesn’t take long for things to go off the rails.
There’s a growing sense of dread as Isaiah’s guidance shifts from intense mentorship to something way more manipulative. He pushes Cam past his limits. The training becomes brutal. The mantras get darker. There are quick flashes of hooded figures, blood, and goats. It’s not subtle—this guy might actually be running a full-on cult disguised as a sports retreat.
Wayans, known for his comedy chops (Scary Movie, White Chicks), leans all the way into serious and sinister here. His performance is cool and commanding, which makes it all the more unsettling. Withers, meanwhile, gives off raw, vulnerable energy as a young athlete whose ambition might be leading him straight into a nightmare.
The trailer doesn’t give away too much plot, but the vibe is crystal clear: this isn’t just about football. It’s about obsession, hero worship, and how chasing greatness can turn into something much darker.
The film also stars Julia Fox (as Isaiah’s influencer wife), Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies, and Grammy-nominated rapper Tierra Whack. Director Justin Tipping—best known for his debut film Kicks—brings a gritty, grounded feel to the visuals, even as the horror starts to take over. The script comes from Zack Akers, Skip Bronkie, and Tipping himself.
And yes, it’s timed perfectly: Him hits theaters on September 19, just as NFL season kicks into high gear. It’s like Friday Night Lights collided with Hereditary, and honestly, we’re intrigued.
Breaking Down the Madness
At this point, it’s basically tradition: anything Jordan Peele touches is going to flip a genre on its head. Him keeps that streak alive, taking the structure of a classic sports story and injecting it with cult horror, psychological breakdowns, and heavy social commentary. It’s a mash-up that shouldn’t work—but based on the trailer, it just might.
Let’s talk about the genre blend first. Sports dramas usually follow a familiar path: talent, adversity, redemption. Him starts there but rips the floor out halfway through. The moment Isaiah starts asking Cam how badly he wants greatness—and what he’s willing to give up for it—you can feel the story veering into something much darker. That pivot feels right in line with Peele’s past work, especially Get Out, where everyday ambition masks something deeply sinister.
And then there’s the casting. Marlon Wayans is the real curveball here. Most people still associate him with comedy, but he’s fully reinventing himself in this role. From what we’ve seen, he’s playing Isaiah like a motivational speaker who slowly reveals himself as a cult leader. It’s a chilling vibe that’s equal parts charming and dangerous—and that duality is exactly what sells the horror.
Tyriq Withers, stepping into a leading role, brings a believable mix of hunger and vulnerability. You can see how easy it would be for a young, injured athlete—who’s had everything ripped away—to fall under someone like Isaiah’s influence. That emotional realism makes the horror land harder.
Visually, the trailer is packed with unsettling details. Goats, blood-drenched imagery, those creepy echoing chants—it’s all familiar horror territory, but the sports setting gives it a new twist. And honestly, the symbolism feels on point. When you think about the way athletes are worshipped, sacrificed (sometimes literally), and pushed beyond their limits, the horror metaphor clicks fast.
Of course, there’s always the risk that the film leans too hard into style over substance. The cult horror space is already crowded (Midsommar, The Invitation, Sound of My Voice), and if Him doesn’t bring something fresh to the table beyond the sports angle, it could get lost in the shuffle. But with Peele’s name attached and the trailer already sparking conversation, this one feels like it has a real shot at standing out.
Final Thoughts
Let’s be real—Him could’ve easily been a mess. Football and cult horror? That’s a weird play. But somehow, it works. The trailer doesn’t just hint at an original horror story—it practically screams it, drenched in sweat, blood, and ambition.
The performances look strong (especially Wayans), the visuals are unsettling in the best way, and the themes? Way deeper than your typical scarefest. If the full film lives up to the trailer, Him could end up being one of the most original horror releases of the year.
Verdict:
Keep your eyes on this one. Whether you’re a horror junkie, a sports movie fan, or just into watching someone’s sanity unravel on screen—Him looks like it’s got something for you.
