The newly released trailer for His Monster leans hard into horror as a metaphor for grief and addiction — but it doesn’t forget to unleash its creature, either.

At the center of the film is the Shōjō, a mythological being from Japanese folklore. Traditionally depicted as a primate-like figure with long, flowing red hair, the Shōjō were said to dwell along coastlines, brewing their own brine wine and tormenting sailors who wandered too close to shore.

Blending psychological horror, creature feature elements, and raw emotional realism, His Monster stars Gabriel Casdorph (The Wolf of Snow Hollow) as James, a deeply flawed alcoholic whose addiction has already cost him everything. When his young daughter is mysteriously swept out to sea, James becomes convinced that a monster is responsible.

Consumed by guilt and loss, he wanders the surrounding woods searching for answers, finding nothing but empty bottles and mounting despair. But when people around him begin turning up dead, James realizes he may be the only one who understands what’s really stalking the community — and no one believes him.

Shot in Oregon, the indie feature is written and directed by Erich Cannon and produced by Compassionate Disaster Films. The cast also includes Meranda Long, Ashley Song, Brace Evans, Miette Blanche, and Justin Harris.

“His Monster explores the idea that the true horror is the grip of addiction and grief,” Cannon said. “My hope is to shine a light on conversations around addiction and abuse through a true-to-life story that plays with magical realism.”

Cannon cites a wide range of influences, including his love of practical effects, the work of Guillermo del Toro, Jim Henson classics like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, and The X-Files, particularly its monster-of-the-week episodes.

His Monster will be introduced to buyers next month by EuroObscura at the European Film Market in Berlin.