New ‘Her Private Hell’ Trailer Unveils a Haunting Mystery With Sophie Thatcher
A new trailer has arrived for Nicolas Winding Refn’s upcoming sci-fi thriller “Her Private Hell,” giving audiences another look at the mysterious and visually striking film before its theatrical release later this month.
According to Neon, which is distributing the movie in the United States, “Her Private Hell” follows Elle, played by Sophie Thatcher, as she searches for her missing father after a strange mist begins swallowing her city. As the mystery deepens, Elle finds herself caught in a world that becomes more dangerous and difficult to understand with every step she takes.
The latest trailer focuses on the eerie atmosphere that has become one of the film’s biggest talking points. Dark streets, disappearing people, and unsettling images hint that the strange fog is much more than a weather event. Instead, it appears to change reality itself, forcing Elle to question everything around her as she continues her search.
Sophie Thatcher leads the cast as Elle alongside Charles Melton, who plays a character known as Private K. Kristine Froseth appears as Hunter, while Havana Rose Liu plays Dominique. The cast also includes Diego Calva, Dougray Scott, Shioli Kutsuna, Aoi Yamada, Hidetoshi Nishijima, and Parker Sawyers.
The film marks Nicolas Winding Refn’s first feature movie since “The Neon Demon,” which was released in 2016. Since then, the filmmaker has focused on television projects, including “Too Old to Die Young” and “Copenhagen Cowboy.” “Her Private Hell” signals his return to the big screen with another visually ambitious story that blends mystery, science fiction, and psychological suspense.
Production on the movie was officially announced by Neon in 2025. At the time, the studio described the project as “something groovy,” while revealing the film’s title and confirming Sophie Thatcher and Charles Melton as the leading stars.
Refn co-wrote the screenplay with Esti Giordani and produced the film through his production company, byNWR. Although the story was originally expected to be filmed in Tokyo with both English and Japanese dialogue, principal photography ultimately took place in Copenhagen during the summer of 2025.
Another notable addition to the production is composer Pino Donaggio, who created the film’s original score. The project marks the first collaboration between Donaggio and Refn.
“Her Private Hell” made its world premiere out of competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in May. According to reports from the festival, the movie received a 12-minute standing ovation following its first screening, although critical reactions to the film have been mixed.
The newly released trailer highlights Refn’s signature visual style, filled with striking colors, slow-burning tension, and dreamlike imagery. While many details about the plot remain secret, the preview suggests that the mystery surrounding Elle’s father is connected to the strange mist that slowly consumes the city and everyone living inside it.
Neon has scheduled the film for a theatrical release across the United States on July 24, with plans for a wide rollout. International audiences will also have a chance to see the movie after Mubi acquired distribution rights for several territories, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Latin America.
With its haunting visuals, mysterious story, and performances from Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, and Havana Rose Liu, “Her Private Hell” is shaping up to be one of this summer’s most unusual sci-fi thrillers. The new trailer offers only a glimpse of its strange world, leaving many questions unanswered ahead of its July 24 release.
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