Coming Soon: The Holy Boy (2025) by Paolo Strippoli — A Haunting Italian Horror That Turns Happiness Into Terror

When Joy Hides Something Dark Directed by Paolo Strippoli and written with Jacopo Del Giudice and Milo Tissone, The Holy Boy (La valle dei sorrisi) takes place in Italy’s so-called “happiest village,” where smiles conceal a disturbing truth. A haunted teacher uncovers the secret of weekly gatherings in which locals seek miraculous healing from a teenage boy’s embrace. His quest to save the youth exposes the sinister machinery behind a community addicted to artificial happiness. The film has already earned 2 wins and 3 nominations, praised for its chilling blend of folk-horror atmosphere and psychological commentary. Strippoli follows in the lineage of Italian masters like Bava and Argento while infusing the genre with sharp social allegory.

Why to Recommend Movie – Horror With a Chilling Smile

• Italian Horror Reborn – Strippoli reinvigorates Italian horror with a story that mixes psychological dread, folk mysticism, and contemporary unease in equal measure. It is both modern and deeply rooted in tradition.

• Terrifyingly Relevant Allegory – Beneath the scares, the film critiques how society masks trauma with superficial joy, echoing today’s culture of distraction and denial. Its message lingers long after the credits roll.

• Atmospheric and Effective – From mountain landscapes to suffocating interiors, the cinematography heightens both beauty and menace, creating tension that builds with every frame.

• Strong Performances – Michele Riondino as the troubled teacher delivers emotional depth, grounding the supernatural horror in very human fears of grief, guilt, and responsibility.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33382323/

Link Review: https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-holy-boy-review-paolo-strippolis-third-feature-is-a-warped-coming-of-age-tale/5207856.article

About movie: https://www.fandango.it/en/film/the-holy-boy/

Release Date on StreamingAcquired by Shudder, the film will stream in 2026, expanding its reach to international horror fans after its award-winning festival run.

Theatrical ReleasePremiered in 2025 at Fantastic Fest before rolling out in Europe, with a U.S. theatrical release scheduled for 2026 alongside its Shudder debut.

What is the Trend Followed – Italian Folk Horror Meets Elevated Terrors

• Folk Horror Revival – Alongside films like Midsommar and Men, The Holy Boy embraces folk rituals and rural communities as fertile ground for terror.

• Elevated Horror With Allegory – It continues the trend of horrors doubling as social critiques, weaving in themes of trauma, repression, and collective denial.

• Italian Genre Resurgence – Part of a wave that reclaims Italy’s horror legacy, blending stylistic tradition with modern storytelling for international audiences.

Director’s Vision – Paolo Strippoli’s Return to Italian Horror Tradition

• Homage and Innovation – Inspired by Argento and Bava, Strippoli honors Italy’s horror roots while pushing the genre into contemporary psychological terrain.

• Atmosphere First – He avoids cheap scares, instead crafting dread through pacing, silence, and atmosphere, making each “jump” far more impactful.

• Human Pain Beneath Horror – The monsters are metaphorical as much as supernatural, with Strippoli highlighting how communities weaponize joy to avoid facing trauma.

• Universal Themes Through Local Setting – Though deeply Italian in setting, its themes of repression and denial resonate globally.

Themes – Happiness, Trauma, and the Darkness Beneath

• The Mask of Joy – Villagers wear constant smiles to conceal deep wounds, mirroring how society hides suffering behind distractions.

• Exploitation of Innocence – The teenage boy’s gift becomes a community’s crutch, questioning how innocence can be consumed by adult needs.

• The Cost of Denial – By refusing to confront trauma, the village spirals deeper into darkness, making avoidance the true horror.

• Faith and Manipulation – The gatherings echo religious ritual, raising unsettling questions about belief, hope, and exploitation.

Key Success Factors – Why The Holy Boy Succeeds as a Modern Italian Horror

• Effective Scares With Substance – Balances chilling sequences with meaningful allegory, proving scares can carry weight.

• Cultural Depth – Embeds Italy’s cultural repression and familial expectations into its story, making it both local and universal.

• Technical Excellence – From eerie lighting to unsettling soundscapes, every technical choice reinforces dread.

• Critical Acclaim at Festivals – Winning awards and strong reviews from Fantastic Fest and beyond solidify its place as one of the year’s standout horrors.

Awards & NominationsThe Holy Boy has already earned 2 wins and 3 nominations, including audience recognition at Fantastic Fest. Its mix of artistry and social critique has drawn attention from horror circles and international juries, signaling a bright festival run ahead.

Critics Reception – Italian Horror Returns With Substance and Style

• Bloody Disgusting – Called it a “fable of terror” that combines folk horror with biting social allegory, praising its atmosphere and restraint.

• Deadline – Highlighted it as an “award-winning horror acquired by Shudder,” noting its balance of genre thrills and psychological depth.

• Festival Reviews – Compared it favorably to Ari Aster’s work, while celebrating it as one of Italy’s strongest horror entries in years.

Summary: Critics agree it’s a powerful, atmospheric horror that honors Italian traditions while carrying universal relevance.

Reviews – Audiences Praise Its Atmosphere and Allegory

• IMDb Users – Viewers note its unsettling suspense and thematic richness, though some mention pacing issues. Many call it one of the best Italian horrors of the millennium.

• Festival Audiences – Applauded its allegory about repression and trauma, with reactions often tying it to Ari Aster and Robert Eggers’ brand of horror.

• Social Commentary Fans – Emphasized its resonance in a world increasingly obsessed with appearances while hiding deeper wounds.

Summary: While divisive in pacing, audiences praise its originality, relevance, and the way it blends scares with substance.

Movie Trend – Folk Horror With Psychological AllegoryThe Holy Boy sits firmly within the folk horror revival, using rituals, communities, and landscapes as stages for dread. But unlike traditional horrors, it dives deep into psychological repression and societal denial, making it more than entertainment—it’s a reflection of cultural anxieties in a cinematic mirror.

Social Trend – The Search for Happiness Amid TraumaThe film mirrors the modern obsession with positivity culture, where people mask pain with distractions or forced optimism. Just as the villagers cling to a boy’s embrace for relief, societies today cling to social media and curated happiness. It’s a chilling allegory for a world that fears vulnerability yet craves healing.

Final Verdict – A Chilling Italian Horror With Lasting ImpactThe Holy Boy proves Italian horror is alive and thriving, with Paolo Strippoli emerging as a director to watch. By turning joy into terror and innocence into exploitation, the film leaves viewers unsettled but thoughtful. It’s both a gripping horror experience and a commentary on our own desperate search for happiness. For fans of elevated, meaningful horror, this is essential viewing.