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In Shudder’s ‘The Holy Boy’, a Teenager Takes Away a Whole Town’s Pain with a Hug, and One Newcomer is Suspicious of the Situation

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In Shudder's the Holy Boy, a Teenager Takes Away a Whole Town's Pain with a Hug, and One Newcomer Doesn't Buy It

Sergio arrives in the isolated town of Remis, a place where the town signs read, “The Valley of Smiles.” Sergio isn’t smiling though. He’s struggling with his past, but his smiling neighbors have a solution.

There’s a 15-year-old boy in town who takes people’s pain away with a hug. The town worships the boy, but Sergio questions what he sees. And the people of Remis aren’t happy about that.

The Holy Boy is from director Paolo Strippoli (A Classic Horror Story), and it was written by Strippoli, Jacopo Del Giudice, and Milo Tissone. Michele Riondino, Giulio Feltri, Paolo Pierobon, and Romana Maggiora Vergano star.

The Holy Boy won Best Director and Best Picture at the 2025 Fantastic Fest.

You’ll be able to stream The Holy Boy on Shudder and AMC+ starting November 27, 2026.

In Shudder's the Holy Boy, a Teenager Takes Away a Whole Town's Pain with a Hug, and One Newcomer Doesn't Buy It
In Shudder's the Holy Boy, a Teenager Takes Away a Whole Town's Pain with a Hug, and One Newcomer Doesn't Buy It
In Shudder's the Holy Boy, a Teenager Takes Away a Whole Town's Pain with a Hug, and One Newcomer Doesn't Buy It
In Shudder's the Holy Boy, a Teenager Takes Away a Whole Town's Pain with a Hug, and One Newcomer Doesn't Buy It
In Shudder's the Holy Boy, a Teenager Takes Away a Whole Town's Pain with a Hug, and One Newcomer Doesn't Buy It
In Shudder's the Holy Boy, a Teenager Takes Away a Whole Town's Pain with a Hug, and One Newcomer Doesn't Buy It
In Shudder's the Holy Boy, a Teenager Takes Away a Whole Town's Pain with a Hug, and One Newcomer Doesn't Buy It
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Meet the author

Chris has a degree in film studies at Temple University’s campus in Tokyo, Japan. He is a renowned expert on horror cinema.

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