'Yellowjackets' Sophie Thatcher Calls Her New Horror "Completely Different" From Anything She's Done Before

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Published May 21, 2026, 8:11 AM EDT

Tamera is a Movies and TV Interview Editor for Collider. She mostly works behind the scenes for the site, and still can't believe she gets to write and edit for all the things she loves.

In her free time, she's hoarding recipes she'll never make, writing, and rewatching Friends, Gilmore Girls, or her favorite comfort scary movies.

At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Collider was thrilled to partner with You Know Films’ Alex Noyer for his digital horror series, The Séance, at the Fantastic Pavilion, the hottest spot for genre at the prestigious gathering. While there, Noyer hosted the team behind Neon’s summer horror Her Private Hell, the first feature from co-writer and director Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, The Neon Demon) in a decade.

How Death Sparked the Idea Behind 'Her Private Hell'

"Suddenly, I was given a gift that I could start over again."

In our first interview with Refn and Melton, the writer-director speaks on his return to filmmaking after a 10-year hiatus from features, and how a brush with death reignited the spark for ideas. He shares how the film is a collision of two visions, discusses expectations versus what audiences can expect from the movie, and how the script evolved from page to screen. Melton, who plays Private K in Her Private Hell, shares what drew him to the movie, his experience working with Refn, and how he embodied his character.

00:26 – Nicolas Winding Refn explains the first image that sparked Her Private Hell and the origin of the story
01:48 – Charles Melton on what drew him to the project and his initial reaction to the script
02:59 – Refn on how his brush with death inspired him to return to filmmaking.
04:26 – How Refn guided a younger ensemble cast and helped them find their characters.
06:09 – Refn explains how he kept the ending a mystery for the entire cast.
07:27 – Charles Melton on Refn’s direction style and what gave him confidence entering the project
09:06 – Refn on his directing approach, on-set “rules,” and managing an ensemble cast
10:59 – Refn on how the film evolved during production and what surprised him creatively.
13:03 – Melton discusses adapting to the film’s evolving process and embodying the character.
15:21 – Refn on the intended emotional impact of the film on audiences seeking escapism.

The stars discuss a heartbreaking romance, letting go of control, and the ending that was completely transformed.

Talking with the three stars, Thatcher, Liu, and Frøseth, we dig a little deeper into the characters of Elle (Thatcher), Dom (Liu), and Hunter (Frøseth). Check out the video, with time codes below, for the actors' insights on their characters, the recurring images that first drew them into the project, and what it was like collaborating with Refn on an ever-evolving script. They contemplate what a "private hell" means to them, the biggest surprises and lessons learned on set, and what they'll take away from this experience.

00:22 - The stars share their first impression images from the script that immediately drew them into the film’s world.
01:46 - The cast shares what “private hell” means to each actor and how it manifests in their characters
04:44 - The trio explains how the mist functions as a storytelling device and affects each character differently
06:50 - They discuss working with Nicolas Winding Refn, adapting to a fluid, evolving script, and his creative guidance
09:10 - They share the biggest surprises during filming compared to expectations from the script.
11:29 - What the actors took away personally and artistically from the experience.
13:43 - Which visual moment or frame from the film would they choose to hang on their wall?
15:58 - The stars share their experiences at the Cannes Film Festival.

Her Private Hell opens in theaters on July 24.