Oscar winner Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions are preparing to release another frightening thriller, Him. Peele, known for his distinctive take on the genre, promises to transform professional sports into a horrific psychological thriller. The official trailer for Him provides a glimpse into a story in which the desire of excellence comes at a horrible cost, and features a powerful performance by Marlon Wayans.
Following the success of Get Out, Us, and Nope, Jordan Peele's involvement with Him makes it a widely anticipated release. The film appears to continue his history of combining keen social critique and frightening terror. This time, the focus moves to the fierce, often ruthless world of football, delving into the dark side of ambition and identity.
What is 'Him' about? The Official Synopsis is Unpacked
His focus is on Cameron Cade, a rising-star college quarterback played by Tyriq Withers. Cameron has dedicated his life and identity to football, striving to be the GOAT, the greatest of all time. His adventure takes a tragic turn when, on the eve of professional football's annual scouting Combine, an insane fan attacks him, suffering potentially career-ending brain injuries.
Just when Cameron believes he has lost everything, his hero, Isaiah White, throws him a lifeline. Marlon Wayans portrays Isaiah, a legendary eight-time championship quarterback and cultural icon. He asks Cameron to train in his remote estate, where he lives with his famous influencer wife, Elsie White (Julia Fox).
However, as Cameron's training progresses, Isaiah's charismatic attitude begins to deteriorate into something darker. This leads his protégé down a perplexing path that may require more than he ever anticipated. The teaser implies that Cameron's reality begins to shift, prompting issues about whether he is being rebuilt or entirely destroyed.
Meet The Cast: Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, and More
The cast of Him includes both experienced actors and newcomers, all of whom promise to provide great performances. Marlon Wayans' tragic performance as Isaiah White marks a major departure from his well-known humorous work. This casting decision has caused a lot of attention, with fans excited to see Wayans in a horrifying new light.
Cameron Cade, the protagonist, is played by Tyriq Withers. Withers has worked on films like Atlanta and the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer. He also played wide receiver for Florida State University's football team in 2017, which undoubtedly contributes to his genuineness as a serious athlete.
Julia Fox stars as Elsie White, Isaiah's influential wife. The cast also includes Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies, MMA heavyweight contender Maurice Greene, hip-hop icon Guapdad 4000, and Grammy nominee Tierra Whack. Greene, Guapdad 4000, and Whack make their feature film debuts in Him.
Cameron Cade, The Protagonist's Journey
Cameron Cade's narrative is an integral element of Him. His transformation from a talented athlete to someone suffering from psychological trauma is a major driving force for the film's horror. The teaser depicts his physical and emotional struggle, implying a deep dive into the challenges encountered by athletes pursuing ultimate accomplishment. Tyriq Withers has discussed the physical and psychological challenges of the role, claiming that the team pushed him to places he "couldn't have imagined."
Isaiah White, the enigmatic mentor
Isaiah White, played by Marlon Wayans, is more than a mentor; he appears to be the catalyst for the film's frightening events. His transformation from a charismatic idol to a darker person remains a fundamental question. The teaser depicts his severe training methods, which include slamming footballs into athletes' faces until they bleed, implying a ruthless approach to achieving excellence.
Fans have already responded to Wayans' passionate performance:
The Role of Monkeypaw Productions
Jordan Peele's firm, Monkeypaw Productions, has a solid track record of producing horror films that simultaneously provide social commentary, including Get Out, Us, Candyman, and Nope. Their collaboration with Him hints that the picture will be more than just jump scares, striving for a deeper, more disturbing experience. Monkeypaw is notorious for transforming familiar surroundings into something extremely frightening, and he appears to be doing so with professional sports.
Jordan Peele's Signature Touch: How 'Him' Fits His Vision.
Jordan Peele's films frequently address issues of identity, societal fears, and the hidden darkness within seemingly ordinary events. He appears to fit perfectly within this design. Cameron Cade's story of losing his identity to football and suffering a traumatic brain injury highlights the severe strain and potential self-loss in elite sports. The concept of an idol turning sinister echoes a recurring Peele theme: the frightening reality behind a polished exterior.
Comparing 'Him' with 'Get Out,' 'Us,' and 'Nope'
While Get Out addressed racial horror and structural oppression, and Us investigated social doppelgängers and class divides, Nope focused on spectacle and exploitation. His approach appears to be similar, focusing on the celebrity cult and the dark side of athletic passion. Peele's work is known for its psychological horror themes, in which reality blurs and characters question their own brains. The film's R rating for "strong bloody violence, language throughout, sexual material, nudity, and some drug use" indicates that it will not shy away from upsetting topics.
Thematic Analysis: Ambition, Identity, and the Cost of Greatness.
The core themes of Him appear to concentrate around the unrelenting quest of greatness and its psychological consequences. Cameron Cade's goal to become the "GOAT" motivates his activities, but the trailer implies that this ambition leads him into a perilous predicament. The film investigates how far one might go to obtain ultimate achievement and what pieces of one's identity might be sacrificed in the process.
The possibility of brain damage adds a depth of psychological terror by potentially blurring Cameron's perspective of reality. This raises the question of whether the horrors he encounters are external or caused by his own broken psyche. The film may also make a statement on the cultural pressure on athletes to perform at superhuman levels, which often comes at the expense of their mental and physical health.
Trailer Breakdown: Unraveling the Mysteries of 'Him'
The Him teaser is filled with frightening images and sounds that heighten anxiety. The sound design most certainly plays an important role in producing a sense of unease, with subtle hints and a distressing score adding to the psychological horror. Visuals of isolated training grounds, intensive physical drills, and Marlon Wayans' increasingly ominous presence all add to the film's grim atmosphere.
Symbolism & Images in the 'Him' Trailer
While the trailer does not feature apparent religious iconography or pentagrams, Peele's films frequently employ subtle symbolism. The concept of a "cult" around Isaiah White, as suggested by his isolated compound and the strong dedication he expects, could be a major symbolic element. The pursuit of being the "GOAT" might be viewed as a sort of idolatry in which the athlete becomes a godlike figure, and the film may address the risks of such adoration. The trailer's fast cuts and jarring graphics also indicate that Cameron's world is splitting, a popular approach in psychological thrillers.
Psychological warfare on the gridiron.
The film seeks to combine the physical demands of football with profound psychological suffering. Isaiah White's training methods appear to extend beyond physical conditioning and into mind manipulation. This elevates the stakes above normal sports drama, transforming the football field into a struggle for Cameron's mind and soul. Tyriq Withers' portrayal appears to depict a character's journey into lunacy, providing a strong human touch to the terror.
Release Date and Where to See 'Him'
Him will premiere exclusively in theaters on Friday, September 19, 2025. Universal Pictures will handle the release. Tickets are not yet on sale, so fans can keep a watch out for updates as the release date approaches. The film's R rating signifies that it will include mature themes and content.
Why Will 'Him' Outrank Other Sports Horror Films?
While sports horror is not a new genre, Jordan Peele's involvement with Him makes it stand out. Peele's ability to incorporate social commentary and psychological depth into his horror narratives lends his films weight that many other genre entrants lack. Him is expected to deliver more than just shocks, as it explores issues such as the cult of stardom, the dark side of ambition, and the mental health toll of severe competition.
The film's emphasis on identity and the psychological change of its protagonist, Cameron Cade, promises a complex plot. Marlon Wayans' dramatic portrayal as Isaiah White provides an extra depth of mystery, implying a multifaceted villain who is more than just a monster. Him aims to reinvent sports cinema by portraying athletic passion as a source of actual terror, making it an engaging movie for horror lovers and those interested in a more in-depth look at the human cost of striving for greatness.