The Holy Boy

2025 2h 2m IT

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 164

ThrillerDramaFantasy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A PE teacher moves to a isolated mountain village where the people appear to live in unshakeable serenity, but soon stumbles across a disturbing ritual. Once a week, the locals are freed of their pain by a lonely boy born with the power to heal one's soul just by hugging them. Trying to rescue him from this madness, the man unleashes his dark side.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Michele Riondino
Sergio Rossetti
Giulio Feltri
Matteo Corbin
Paolo Pierobon
Mauro Corbin
Romana Maggiora Vergano
Michela
Roberto Citran
Don Attilio
Sergio Romano
Pichler
Anna Bellato
Anna
Sandra Toffolatti
Elisabetta Gengo

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Paolo Strippoli
Writers: Paolo Strippoli, Jacopo del Giudice, Milo Tissone
Languages: Italian
Countries: Italy, Slovenia

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $4.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 9% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released last year.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Italy, Slovenia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Paolo Strippoli, shot by Cristiano Di Nicola. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Federico Bisozzi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Federico Palmerini shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Michele Riondino and Giulio Feltri and Paolo Pierobon carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Paolo Strippoli directs. Cristiano Di Nicola behind the camera. Federico Bisozzi scores. Federico Palmerini cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Italy, Slovenia. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $4.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Earned back only 9% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
3Released last year.
4International production across 2 countries: Italy, Slovenia.
5Directed by Paolo Strippoli, shot by Cristiano Di Nicola. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Federico Bisozzi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Federico Palmerini shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Michele Riondino and Giulio Feltri and Paolo Pierobon carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt33382323 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.