The first neon-hued trailer for Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Her Private Hell” dropped today, just hours before the film’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The movie stars Yellowjackets actress Sophie Thatcher and Riverdale alum Charles Melton in a story set in a future metropolis where a group of actresses gathers at a posh hotel to film a Barbarella-like production while a killer known as Leather Man stalks the city’s women.
According to the trailer released by Neon, the film carries the tagline “You are made of stardust.” It promises an exclusive theatrical run beginning July 24. The studio plans to open the picture in 800 to 1,200 theaters nationwide, a mid-range release that reflects Neon’s typical strategy for ambitious genre titles.
Refn previously won the Best Director prize at Cannes for his 2011 crime thriller Drive, which starred Ryan Gosling and featured Albert Brooks in an against-type villain role alongside Carey Mulligan and Oscar Isaac. That film earned a 15-minute standing ovation at its world premiere, one of the longest in recent festival memory, according to Deadline’s Pete Hammond.
The new project reunites Refn with the neon-drenched visual style that defined Drive and later works such as Only God Forgives. Early footage shows saturated colors and stylized urban nightscapes, consistent with the director’s signature aesthetic. Cast members also include Kristine Froseth, Havana Rose Liu and Diego Calva, rounding out an ensemble that mixes rising stars with established names.
Industry observers note that Refn’s return to Cannes with a high-concept thriller arrives at a moment when distributors are betting on distinctive auteur-driven projects to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Neon, which has built a reputation for championing bold cinema, acquired the film and is handling its domestic release.
Details about the plot remain limited beyond the trailer’s broad strokes. The story reportedly intertwines the actresses’ preparations for their sci-fi movie with the parallel threat posed by the Leather Man, creating a dual narrative of performance and peril. No official runtime or rating has been announced yet.
Thatcher, best known for her work on the Showtime series Yellowjackets, takes on her first major leading film role here. Melton, who gained attention for his performances in Riverdale and later dramatic parts, is cast opposite her in what appears to be a central relationship. Their pairing has already generated online discussion among fans of both actors.
The July 24 release date places Her Private Hell in a competitive summer window that includes several other high-profile studio releases. Neon executives have not commented on specific marketing plans beyond the trailer and the Cannes premiere, though the studio’s social media accounts have amplified the “You are made of stardust” slogan.
Refn has long cited influences ranging from classic film noir to European art cinema, and early reactions to the trailer suggest Her Private Hell continues that blend. Whether the film will receive the same rapturous festival response as Drive remains to be seen once critics and audiences view the full cut.
Additional cast and crew details are expected to surface following the Cannes screening. For now, the trailer offers the clearest glimpse yet of the director’s latest neon-soaked vision, one that promises to merge pulp thrills with stylized futurism in equal measure.