It’s been 10 long years since Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon premiered at Cannes, and the independent auteur is now celebrating the world premiere of Her Private Hell, his latest neon-soaked horror offering, which screened last night on the Croisette. Reports claimed the film received anywhere from a 7- to 12-minute standing ovation, depending on the outlet, instantly placing it among the festival’s buzziest premieres.
The reviews, meanwhile, have ranged from glowing to scathing… exactly the kind of response Refn tends to inspire.
Deadline called the film a “trippy return to cinema,” praising Pino Donaggio’s score as “the secret sauce” behind the experience, while Reuters described it as another example of Refn’s “stylized and atmospheric storytelling.”
Others were far less enthusiastic. Cineuropa called the film “not worth the wait,” while World of Reel labeled it “borderline unwatchable,” though even that review admitted the movie features “gorgeous visuals and an incredible score.”
Indiewire was incredibly harsh, writing that “this neon-drowned endurance test is one of the most miserable theatrical viewing experiences in years.”
That split reaction feels very on-brand for Refn, whose Cannes premieres for Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon were similarly divisive before becoming cult favorites.
Here’s the official synopsis: “When a mysterious mist engulfs a futuristic metropolis, unleashing a deadly and elusive entity, a troubled young woman (Sophie Thatcher; Companion, Heretic, Yellowjackets) searches for her father. Her quest collides with an American GI on a harrowing odyssey to rescue his daughter from hell.”
Her Private Hell also features Charles Melton (May December), Kristine Froseth, and Havana Rose Liu (No Exit), with Dougray Scott (Irvine Welsh’s Crime), Diego Calva (Babylon), Aoi Yamada (Perfect Days), Shioli Kutsuna (Deadpool & Wolverine), and Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car).
Refn characterizes Her Private Hell as an original story driven by “glitter, sex, and violence,” firmly within his established stylistic territory.
Her Private Hell opens in theaters on July 24, 2026.
