The Holy Boy (IS2026) (2026) review, cast and showtimes

Name: The Holy Boy (IS2026)
Released: 2026-10-12
Duration: 122 min
Cast: Michele Riondino, Giulio Feltri, Paolo Pierobon, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Roberto Citran

What it is about

When Sergio, a teacher tormented by his past, is transferred to Remis, a secluded village known as the happiest town in Italy, it seems the perfect place for a new start. But behind the town’s joyful facade lies a dark and disturbing secret. Each week, villagers gather to meet Matteo, an introverted 15-year-old they say is an angel whose embrace can free one of all pain and sorrow. Yet Sergio’s attempt to save Matteo awakens the darker side of the community, and the boy everyone calls the angel of Remis.

Venice Film Festival: FEDIC Award for Best Film
Fantastic Fest: Audience Award, Next Wave Best Director Award

What to expect

Paolo Strippoli’s second feature sets a troubled teacher down in Remis, a village that markets itself as Italy’s happiest. The cheer is real but it is fuelled by a weekly gathering around Matteo, a withdrawn 15-year-old whose embrace the townspeople treat as a cure for pain. Strippoli keeps the camera close to the teacher’s growing unease, letting the community’s warmth curdle into something possessive without ever raising its voice. The 122-minute Italian-language movie picked up the FEDIC Award at Venice and two prizes at Fantastic Fest. Audiences who scored it landed on 6.8 out of 10. It opens in Hong Kong on 12 October 2026 with English subtitles. No certificate yet, but the sustained psychological pressure makes it adult fare. This is a small-scale release, so look to indie and art-house venues rather than multiplex chains.

Cast