Sophie Thatcher in ‘Her Private Hell’. Photo: Neon.
‘Her Private Hell‘, the new film from visionary director Nicolas Winding Refn (‘Drive‘), which he co-wrote with Esti Giordani, opens in theaters on July 24th.
Release Date: Jul 24, 2026
Run Time: 1 hr 50 min
The film stars Sophie Thatcher (‘Heretic‘), Charles Melton (‘May December‘), Havana Rose Liu (‘Bottoms‘), Kristine Froseth (‘The First Lady‘), and Dougray Scott (‘Mission: Impossible II‘).
Related Article: Nicolas Winding Refn, Sophie Thatcher and More Talk ‘Her Private Hell’
Initial Thoughts
Charles Melton in ‘Her Private Hell’. Photo: Neon.
Full disclosure: director Nicolas Winding Refn’s ‘Drive’ starring Ryan Gosling is is one of my top three movies of all time and Moviefone recently ranked it as the best film of the 21st Century! Needless to say, I was really excited for the director’s latest film, ‘Her Private Hell’, yet extremely disappointed with the final result.
While Refn’s new movie is visually stunning, as they always are, the script is an incoherent mess and I couldn’t even begin to explain the confusing plot, which involves two separate storylines. The characters, and more importantly the performances are swallowed up by the visual spectacle and the music, and in the end the audience is left completely lost.
Story and Direction
‘Her Private Hell’ director Nicolas Winding Refn.
The film begins by introducing us to Elle (Thatcher), who arrives at a futuristic hotel to make a movie, and search for her father, Johnny Thunders (Scott). She soon encounters her ex-girlfriend and now stepmother Dominique (Liu), and a celebrity-obsessed woman named Hunter (Froseth), both of whom stand in the way of Elle connecting with her egocentric dad.
Meanwhile, in a parallel underworld (Hell itself, perhaps?), we meet an American GI named Private K (Melton), who is searching for his lost daughter. Both worlds collide when a deadly entity appears to unleash terror upon them.
I understand that director Nicolas Winding Refn was going for a dreamlike, abstract, mythological fantasy film, but instead the result is a confusing potluck of various ideas. The script is incoherent, the plot confusing, and the characters are never given enough time to resonate with the audience. The costumes, hair and make-up, and breathtaking production design are the film’s highlights, but basically go to waste in an otherwise boring and uninteresting film.
Cast and Performances
(Center L to R) Havana Rose Liu and Sophie Thatcher in ‘Her Private Hell’. Photo: Neon.
Sophie Thatcher, who was fantastic in ‘Heritic’, tries her best to carry the film, despite the script’s shortcomings. Her performance is strong yet vulnerable and she definitely draws the audience in even if her character’s motivations are confusing.
Charles Melton, best known for his breakout role in ‘May December’ and his current role on ‘Beef‘, seems like he is in a completely different movie, but that is by design. The actor is believable in the role, even if what’s happening around him is not.
Kristine Froseth’s Hunter might be the most interesting character in the movie, but is underused. I would have liked to see more exploration of her influencer character and how her fame-obsessed point of view mirrors our own society today. However, Dougray Scott and Havana Rose Liu are both miscast and I never really believed their relationship or how it truly affects Elle.
Final Thoughts
Kristine Froseth in ‘Her Private Hell’. Photo: Neon.
Nicolas Winding Refn is truly a genius and a visionary filmmaker, but ‘Her Private Hell’ doesn’t work on virtually any level. Despite a few bright spots, the film is virtually unwatchable, and will be a big disappointment to fans of the Danish director.
‘Her Private Hell’ receives a score of 35 out of 100.
Charles Melton in ‘Her Private Hell’. Photo: Neon.
What is the plot of ‘Her Private Hell’?
When a mysterious mist engulfs a futuristic metropolis, unleashing a deadly and elusive entity, a troubled young woman (Sophie Thatcher) searches for her father (Dougray Scott). Her quest collides with an American GI (Charles Melton) on a harrowing odyssey to rescue his daughter from Hell.
Who is in the cast of ‘Her Private Hell’?
‘Her Private Hell’ opens in theaters on July 24th.
List of Nicolas Winding Refn Movies:
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