Directed by Paolo Strippoli
(A Classic Horror Story, the upcoming The Spiral)
Starring Michele Riondino and Giulio Feltri
Written by Paolo Strippoli, Jacopo Del Giudice, Milo Tissone
Streaming on Shudder Starting Friday, November 27th
**Fantastic Fest – WINNER: Audience Award and New Wave Best Director**
**Venice Film Festival – Official Selection**
**BFI London Film Festival – Official Selection**
“A clever, creepy Italian chiller. Under cover of an enjoyably eerie horror movie, director Paolo Strippoli investigates the dangers of displaced grief.. Maintaining its moral ambivalence even as it ramps up to a spectacular finale.”
– Jessica Kiang, VARIETY
“A holy experience in folk horror worth canonizing. Director Paolo Strippoli’s immensely unsettling Italian chiller The Holy Boy reaches straight through the chest to grab hold of your heart and squeeze it dry.”
– Chad Collins, DREAD CENTRAL
“An intriguing chiller that is more interested in trying to disturb viewers than in simply grossing them out. A precise and cutting examination of the perils of trying to offload one’s own personal pain onto someone else.”
– Peter Sobczynski, ROGER EBERT. COM
Synopsis
Sergio (Michele Riondino), a teacher tormented by his past is transferred to Remis, a secluded village known as the happiest town in Italy. But Sergio soon discovers that behind the town’s joyful facade lies a disturbing secret: Each week, the villagers gather to hug Matteo (Giulio Feltri), an introverted fifteen-year-old whose embrace can free one of all pain and sorrow. As Sergio uncovers that the village’s devotion to Matteo is far from benevolent, his attempt to rescue the boy known as the Angel of Remis ignites the community’s vengeful nature.
About the Director
Paolo Strippoli was born in Corato, Bari, Italy in 1993. He graduated in Film Directing from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome after obtaining a degree in Performing Arts and Sciences from La Sapienza University. In 2019, he won the Franco Solinas Award for Best Screenplay with the film L’angelo infelice, written with Jacopo del Giudice and Milo Tissone. In 2020, he directed the Netflix original film A Classic Horror Story with Roberto De Feo, winning Best Director at the 67th Taormina Film Fest. In 2022 his second feature film, the psychological horror Piove, is released, competing at the Sitges Film Festival, Austin Fantastic Fest, and Alice Nella Città. His third and fourth films, The Holy Boy (La valle dei sorrisi) and The Spiral (L’estranea), will be released this year.
Director: Paolo Strippoli
Writer: Paolo Strippoli, Jacopo Del Giudice, Milo Tissone
Cast: Michele Riondino, Giulio Feltri, Paolo Pierobon, Romana Maggiora Vergano Sergio Romano, Anna Bellato, Sandra Toffolatti, Roberto Citran
Producers: Domenico Procacci, Laura Paolucci, Ines Vasilevic, Stefano Sardo. Executive Producers: Ivan Fiorini, Attilio Moro
Co-Producers: Jožko Rutar, Miha Černec
Cinematographer: Cristiano Di Nicola
Editor: Federico Palmerini
Music: Federico Bisozzi, Davide Tomat
Language: Italian
Run time: 125 min
