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Her Private Hell (2026 film)

Her Private Hell is a 2026 science fiction horror thriller film written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Her Private Hell is a 2026 science fiction horror thriller film written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. It stars an ensemble cast including Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, Havana Rose Liu, Kristine Froseth, Shioli Kutsuna, Aoi Yamada, Dougray Scott, Diego Calva, and Hidetoshi Nishijima. The film premiered out of competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 18 May 2026, with a U.S. theatrical release scheduled by Neon for 24 July 2026.

Premise

The film follows a troubled young woman searching for her father in a futuristic metropolis engulfed by a mysterious mist. Her path intersects with an American G.I. on a separate quest to save his daughter.

Production

Her Private Hell was produced and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, from a story he wrote and a screenplay co-written with Esti Giordani. The film was presented at the Cannes Film Festival before its commercial release.

Cast

The ensemble cast includes Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, Havana Rose Liu, Kristine Froseth, Shioli Kutsuna, Aoi Yamada, Dougray Scott, Diego Calva, and Hidetoshi Nishijima.

Release and reception

The film had its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival out of competition. Neon scheduled the U.S. theatrical release for 24 July 2026. Early reviews described the critical response as mixed.

Key facts

  • Her Private Hell is a 2026 sci-fi horror thriller directed by Nicolas Winding Refn.
  • The film premiered out of competition at Cannes on 18 May 2026.
  • Neon scheduled the U.S. release for 24 July 2026.
  • Cast includes Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, and Dougray Scott.
  • Early critical reception was mixed.

Frequently asked questions

What is Her Private Hell?
Her Private Hell is a 2026 science fiction horror thriller film directed by Nicolas Winding Refn.
Who directed Her Private Hell?
Nicolas Winding Refn directed the film and wrote the story.
When did Her Private Hell premiere?
It had its world premiere out of competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 18 May 2026.
Who stars in Her Private Hell?
The cast includes Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, Havana Rose Liu, Kristine Froseth, Shioli Kutsuna, Aoi Yamada, Dougray Scott, Diego Calva, and Hidetoshi Nishijima.
What is the film about?
It follows a young woman searching for her father in a futuristic city while a separate character, an American G.I., seeks to rescue his daughter.
When was it released in the United States?
Neon scheduled a U.S. theatrical release for 24 July 2026.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_Private_Hell_(2026_film)
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, Cannes premiere, and U.S. release date.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/her_private_hell
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, runtime, original language, rating, and release date.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter — https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/her-private-hell-review-nicolas-winding-refn-charles-melton-1236600373/
    Supports: Cannes premiere and film description.
  4. Variety — https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/her-private-hell-review-nicolas-winding-refn-1236753509/
    Supports: Plot details, cast, and critical response.
  5. The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/19/her-private-hell-review-a-bizarre-shapeshifting-fantasia-nicolas-winding-refn
    Supports: Cannes screening and general description of the film.