Her Will Be Done (2026) Review

What would you do to be free? Free from expectations, or from tradition? Julia Kowalski explores that idea in her French folk horror film, Her Will Be Done. Set in a remote Polish village, Nawojka gets a taste of freedom through her neighbor, Sandra. Shackled to her home to take care of her brothers and father, Naw dreams of going to vet school. But her father knows what she is, and only wants to protect her from herself.

What Kowalski decides to explore with Her Will Be Done is not a new concept, yet she handles it with care. Something about horror stories when women are at the helm is the attention to the small moments that make up the larger story elements. We're able to walk in Naw's shoes and understand her desperate need to be free from her life, even though she's the anchor for the men in her family. Even the women in their small community uphold tradition and what that looks like for their culture. 

When Sandra comes back in town to pack up her parent's house next door, Naw becomes intrigued by her freedom to be herself and to live how she wants. Her brothers and father warn her to stay away from her, not wanting her ways to rub off on Naw. But it isn't Sandra that they should be worried about.

While there are a few different themes being highlighted throughout the film, it never feels like it's too much or unbalanced. Kowalski fine tunes her focus in her writing and directing, keeping Naw's struggles and her desires at the forefront. Simon Beaufils' (Anatomy of a Fall) cinematography is a stunning addition. Some moments remind me of another film we saw earlier this year, When You Open the Door, directed by Eriko Katagiri. Both of these films take us on a character journey that is carefully crafted. While this works in order for us to understand our main character, it is a slower paced story. And if you're anything like me and don't care for ambiguity in your horror, then you will walk away from this one with a few more questions than answers. 

Her Will Be Done is a folk horror film that takes us on a beautiful character journey. Though it's more of an ambiguous slow burn, Kowalski still manages to present a creative take on witchy folk horror. 

This film will be available on VOD starting October 2nd.