Dec 14
Alexander Skarsgård Swaps BDSM Rom-Com for Gothic Horror in ‘The Wolf Will Tear Your Immaculate Hands’
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Alexander Skarsgård is extending his run of boundary-pushing roles, moving from an upcoming BDSM‑inflected romantic comedy into the realm of gothic horror with "The Wolf Will Tear Your Immaculate Hands". According to industry reports, Skarsgård will headline the new feature from writer‑director Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, whose acclaimed debut "Clara Sola" established her as a distinctive voice in international cinema.
The project arrives as Skarsgård continues to garner attention for his diverse work, including the queer coming‑of‑age drama "Pillion", in which he plays Ray, an alluring biker involved with a shy young gay man named Colin. In separate coverage, genre outlets have also highlighted his forthcoming BDSM rom‑com "Pillion", positioning his shift into gothic horror as part of a broader pattern of taking on sexually and psychologically charged material.
According to an official synopsis shared with multiple publications, "The Wolf Will Tear Your Immaculate Hands" is set in the 1860s Pacific Northwest and follows a Native American governess, educated in a Christian mission school, who is hired to teach the two daughters of a British widower played by Skarsgård. As the widower prepares his eldest daughter for an arranged marriage, “a force within her begins to awaken, threatening everything she has been taught,” signaling a blend of psychological horror and supernatural elements framed through the lens of gendered and colonial control.
Director Nathalie Álvarez Mesén has described the film as an expansion of her “signature blend of intimate character work and magic realism” into “a darker, more haunting period world,” building on the approach she developed in "Clara Sola". In comments reported by "Dread Central", she has said the story grapples with “how to break free from patriarchal structures and if you can decolonize your own body, if not for yourself, for the sake of future generations.” These themes intersect with ongoing conversations within LGBTQ+ communities about bodily autonomy, faith, and the lasting impact of colonization on gender and sexual norms.
Álvarez Mesén is joined on the script by Icelandic novelist and screenwriter Sjón, known to film audiences for co‑writing "The Northman" and "Lamb", both of which explore folklore, violence, and identity in unconventional ways. The collaboration continues Skarsgård’s creative relationship with Sjón after their work together on "The Northman", strengthening the film’s ties to contemporary art‑house genre cinema.
"The Wolf Will Tear Your Immaculate Hands" will also feature Indigenous Canadian actor Darla Contois in the central role of the governess Isabel, alongside Bronte Carmichael and Lily La Torre as the widower’s daughters, according to horror trade coverage. In an official statement quoted by several outlets, Álvarez Mesén praised her cast, saying she feels “incredibly lucky to work with a cast who dive into their roles with such generosity, playfulness, and openness,” and adding that “Darla embodies Isabel with visceral emotional depth, and Alexander portrays the father with a truth and volatility that ground the story.”
Industry reports describe the film as Álvarez Mesén’s first English‑language feature, positioning it as a significant career step following the festival success of "Clara Sola", which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and was later released in multiple territories. The new film is currently targeting a theatrical release in 2026, marking it as one of the more anticipated gothic horror titles on the upcoming calendar for genre fans and cinephiles.
While "The Wolf Will Tear Your Immaculate Hands" has not been described as explicitly LGBTQ+ in plot, its focus on bodily control, religious schooling, and efforts to “decolonize your own body” has drawn interest from queer commentators who see parallels with lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people raised in conservative or mission‑based environments. Skarsgård’s concurrent work in "Pillion", which centers on a relationship between two men and has been noted for its “sex‑positive odd romance,” further strengthens his connection with queer cinema and audiences seeking complex, affirming depictions of desire.
Genre publications have highlighted Skarsgård’s previous horror and dark‑genre roles, including "Infinity Pool", "Hold the Dark", and his long association with vampire storytelling through "True Blood", as evidence that he brings both star power and a willingness to explore unsettling material to Álvarez Mesén’s new film. With a narrative centered on a Native woman navigating the demands of a patriarchal, colonial household, the film’s creative team and casting choices are being watched closely by viewers invested in intersectional representation, including Indigenous and LGBTQ+ communities who have long advocated for more nuanced storytelling in genre cinema.
As production moves forward and additional details emerge, "The Wolf Will Tear Your Immaculate Hands" is poised to be a focal point in discussions about how contemporary gothic horror can engage thoughtfully with histories of gender, sexuality, and colonization, while also providing emotionally rich, character‑driven scares for a wide audience.
