Nicolas Winding Refn Returns After a Decade with the Fever Dream Horror 'Her Private Hell'
After ten years away from feature films, Nicolas Winding Refn is back — and he's bringing a neon-drenched nightmare with him. 'Her Private Hell' marks the director's first feature since 2016's 'The Neon Demon,' and early reactions out of Cannes suggest it was worth the wait.
The film premiered out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where it divided audiences in the way only a Refn film can. Some called it visually stunning. Others called it maddening. Few called it forgettable.
What Is 'Her Private Hell' About?
Set in a futuristic metropolis, the film follows a group of actresses who gather at a lavish hotel to shoot a sci-fi film within the film — something Refn has described as evoking the campy, psychedelic energy of 'Barbarella.' But as the cameras roll, a serial killer known as "Leather Man" begins murdering women across the city.
It's a premise that sounds straightforward on paper, but anyone familiar with Refn's work knows better. Expect nonlinear storytelling, pulsing synth scores, and long, hypnotic sequences bathed in primary colors. The director co-wrote the script with Esti Giordani, whose television credits include 'Vida' and 'Room 104.'
An Ensemble Cast That Demands Attention
Refn has assembled one of his most intriguing casts yet:
- Sophie Thatcher ('Companion,' 'Yellowjackets')
- Kristine Froseth ('Sierra Burgess Is a Loser,' 'The Assistant')
- Havana Rose Liu ('No Exit,' 'Bottoms')
- Charles Melton ('May December,' 'Warfare')
- Dougray Scott ('Mission: Impossible II,' 'Hitman')
- Diego Calva ('Babylon,' 'Narcos: Mexico')
- Shioli Kutsuna ('Deadpool & Wolverine,' 'The Outsider')
- Hidetoshi Nishijima ('Drive My Car,' 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes')
- Aoi Yamada ('Perfect Days')
Character details remain under wraps, but the sheer range of this ensemble — from arthouse darlings to blockbuster veterans — suggests a film operating on multiple wavelengths.
Refn's First Feature in a Decade
It's easy to forget that Refn hasn't directed a feature since 2016. He kept busy in the intervening years: the Prime Video series 'Too Old to Die Young,' Netflix's 'Copenhagen Cowboy,' and a series of fashion short films for Prada. But 'Her Private Hell' represents his full return to the big screen.
The film carries an R rating for "strong bloody violence and more," which should be no surprise to anyone who remembers the arterial spray of 'Drive' or the tableaux of violence in 'Only God Forgives.' Refn has never been one to flinch.
NEON Continues Its Hot Streak
NEON is handling distribution and plans a moderate theatrical release in 800 to 1,200 theaters. The distributor has become the go-to home for ambitious, visually distinctive horror and genre films, from 'Longlegs' to 'The Substance' to the upcoming 'It Ends.' 'Her Private Hell' fits comfortably in that lineage.
The timing is bold: the film opens July 24, sandwiched between Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' (July 17) and 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' (July 31). It's a vote of confidence from NEON that Refn's name alone can pull audiences into theaters during the most competitive weeks of the summer.
The Early Verdict
Cannes reviews have been mixed, which is typical for a Refn film. Some critics praised the visual ambition — the film reportedly looks like nothing else in theaters this year. Others found the abstract storytelling frustrating. What unites both camps is the acknowledgment that 'Her Private Hell' is a singular experience, the kind of movie that only a director with Refn's particular obsessions could make.
For horror fans who crave something truly different, that might be the best endorsement of all.
Her Private Hell opens in theaters July 24, 2026, courtesy of NEON.
