Sophie Thatcher And Charles Melton Lead Stylish Thriller Her Private Hell
Are you a fan of films that are strange, stylish and impossible to predict? Then Her Private Hell could be one of this year’s most intriguing releases. Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (best known for Drive and The Neon Demon), the dark sci-fi thriller marks his first feature film in almost a decade and features two bona fide rising stars in Sophie Thatcher (Companion) and Charles Melton (May December).
Blending dystopian science fiction, psychological horror and surreal imagery, the film has received a controversial reception after its premiere at Cannes- here’s everything you need to know.
What is Her Private Hell about?
Her Private Hell takes place in a futuristic metropolis that has been engulfed by a mysterious mist, one that hides a deadly and very creepy entity lurking somewhere within the city. At the centre of the story is Elle (Thatcher), a troubled young woman searching for her estranged father as society around her begins to unravel. Her journey soon collides with that of Private K (Charles Melton), an American soldier embarking on a desperate mission of his own.
Private K is searching for his kidnapped daughter, whom he believes has been taken to Hell itself. As their stories intertwine, they are drawn into an increasingly surreal and violent world populated by mysterious figures, strange visions and hidden dangers. There’s a lot of style and pretty surreal stuff going on here, and you can expect plenty of neon-drenched visuals alongside a lot of metaphors, symbolism and dream-like logic. Basically, it might not all quite make sense on first glance. Like Refn’s other films, the cinematography in particular is the name of the game here.
You can expect plenty of neon-drenched visuals alongside a lot of metaphors, symbolism and dream-like logic.
Is there a trailer and who else stars?
The official trailer offers a glimpse into the film’s bizarre dystopian world, though still doesn’t give much away: there are a lot of masked figures and glowing cityscapes, wrapped in pretty shocking violence. It’s every bit as visually striking as fans of Refn’s previous films might expect, while keeping many of its biggest mysteries firmly under wraps.
Alongside Sophie Thatcher and Charles Melton, the film stars Havana Rose Liu, Kristine Froseth, Dougray Scott, Diego Calva, Shioli Kutsuna, Aoi Yamada and Hidetoshi Nishijima. Refn and Esti Giordani co-wrote the screenplay, while legendary composer Pino Donaggio provided the score.
When does it release?
Intrigued? Well, the good news is, you don’t have long to wait to see Her Private Hell in cinemas, with the release date set for September 25th 2026. In the meantime, watch the trailer below.
