The Biblical Symbolism in the trailer for HIM (2025)

I just saw the trailer for the movie HIM, and as of right now I'm very intrigued. I've never seen a sport horror movie but I think the message are quite interesting to discuss in a horror movie since all horror movies have some kind commentary on politics, racism, society, the government, and people. Whether they show it in a slasher, psychological, body horror, or supernatural among other types of horror films. I know its not my usual blog subject but I started my film criticism class and wanted to give myself some practice with breaking down some symbolism in a trailer since the movie isn't out yet. Just to the preface I have a small limited knowledge on the Bible and biblical stories but I do know enough to point out the clever use of icons and imagery In the trailer. 

The first is the use of the term "Goat" which as an acronym commonly used to describe the "Greatest Of All Time" people in sports. Which is referenced in the beginning where the main character says he wanted to be the "Goat", on one hand goats in the Bible are used as sacrifices, on the other hand they can represent evil like the demonic figure of Baphomet. Although being a Pagan symbol Baphomet is used as a symbol for satanism along with his purpose as a symbol for the devil himself or just a messenger to him. In the trailer you can see a character with a white fur coat and horns which seems to be a goat. Towards the end where our main character covered in blood walks out and behind him there is an inflatable display of a ram or a goat. If it is a ram that can also play into the ideas of sacrifice, which is what rams represent in the Bible. Which can also mean in this scene is the point where the main character has given everything to be the greatest. 

In the last frame of this scene the inflatable display behind him that makes up the fur of the ram or goat which looks like wings along with his outstretched arms as if to mimic Jesus on the cross. To add to this there is a line towards the end where the character Isaiah White says "Think of it like a gift from the gods." Saying Gods instead of God. I'll get back to this in a second. Theres another frame where a person or dummy in a pig mask is stabbed through the chest. For the symbolism of pigs in the Bible they are generally seen as unclean now this might be seen as a stretch but if its a person in a pig mask then I believe this is supposed to represent how this person wasn't cut out for the training and was deemed "Unclean". Another point I want to add is the perhaps pentagram on the ground in the last part where it shows the title card, I believe this part of the movie will be a true sacrifice where the main character will have to do something as a final test or be the one to be sacrificed. The last point I want to make is the title. You've heard "He is Him" referring to god, but I don't believe that is the him they are talking about I don't even think the main character is the "him" here. They are talking about the Devil. What I think is that there is some kind of devil in the movie either literally or figuritively through this Isaiah character, when Isaiah character refers to gods I think that if this devil is literal then he believes its a god. I might be reading too much into it but there are also many symbols in the trailer, such as a triangle, circle and square symbol on the top of a building that seems to be a church. I still think there will be some kind of cult or cult like thing going on. 

Now I want to get into the sports allegories with the biblical ties. The main character who for some reason I've been leaving out naming. Cameron is his name, football is his game but I believe the subtle biblical iconography will either be a metaphor for sacrifice, the price of fame, and selling your soul to the devil. Or will be literal where in the end he will truly sell his soul. This is all to show how sports can lead a person down a self destructive path of fame searching and bodily harm while the film will probably go to a more extreme version. Cameron is even seen being hit in the head by a figure wearing a mask with two different sets of horns which leaves me to believe it has something to do with the rituals or cult like tendencies of Isaiah Whites group on his compound. The movie and its marketing is very heavy on sacrifice in one of its taglines being "Greatness demands sacrifice" I think that it will mean a real sacrifice and not the real things people in big sports like football have to do. But more of a real person or something about himself. Another tag line is "Never meet your heroes" which makes me believe that Isiaiah will be a devil character. I'm very curious which path it decides to choose. There will also be a theme of pushing yourself to the limits all to achieve fame. In recent horror films there seems to be a common through line of this plot where a character goes through great and horrifying lengths to achieve success in any capacity and for any reason. A few films with that plot are The Substance, Grafted, and The Ugly Stepsister. 

As for the real sport ties I have nothing, I don't know sports that well but can see some of the parallels to the metaphors used here. I will have to make an update when it comes out. So I hope you happily endured this rant and I hope it makes sense. I'll go more into depth if I get any more points.