Trailer for HER PRIVATE HELL Offers a Neon-Filled Look at Nicolas Winding Refn's First Film in a Decade
After a ten-year break from feature filmmaking, Nicolas Winding Refn is finally back with Her Private Hell, and Neon has released the first full trailer for the filmmaker's long-awaited return.
If you were hoping this latest preview would reveal a little more about the story than the teaser did, you might want to adjust your expectations.
The trailer leans heavily into Refn's signature visual style, filling every frame with glowing neon lights, slow-moving characters, haunting imagery, and an atmosphere that feels like it's drifting through a dream.
It certainly looks great visually, but it still keeps most of the narrative locked away, offering another cryptic preview that seems far more interested in mood than answers.
Set inside a multi-realm, neon-soaked metropolis, the film unfolds in a futuristic city where a mysterious mist blankets the streets, releasing a deadly and elusive entity.
At the center of the story is a troubled young woman, played by Sophie Thatcher, who sets out to find her missing father. Along the way, her journey intersects with an American GI on a dangerous mission to rescue his daughter from Hell.
The film's official synopsis reads: "You are made of stardust." When a mysterious mist engulfs a futuristic metropolis, unleashing a deadly and elusive entity, a troubled young woman (starring Sophie Thatcher) searches for her father. Her quest collides with an American GI on a harrowing odyssey to rescue his daughter from Hell.
Joining Thatcher is an impressive cast that includes Charles Melton, Kristine Froseth, Havana Rose Liu, and Diego Calva.
While the visuals are unmistakably Refn, the early reception hasn't exactly inspired confidence. Her Private Hell premiered during the Midnight section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where critics were far from enthusiastic.
Many reviews described the film as all style and very little substance, with some going as far as calling it a frustrating experience despite its striking presentation.
That said, Refn has always been a filmmaker whose work sparks strong reactions. Fans of Drive, Only God Forgives, and The Neon Demon know exactly what they're signing up for. His films often prioritize atmosphere, hypnotic imagery, and emotion over straightforward storytelling, and Her Private Hell appears to continue that tradition without compromise.
Neon will release Her Private Hell in select theaters beginning on July 24, 2026.