Film Review: Explore ‘The Royal Hotel’ but Don’t Prolong Your Stay in this Understated Horror Film

In “The Royal Hotel,” horror takes a different form—absent are the scream-inducing jump-cuts or ominous masked figures. Instead, it evokes the kind of dread one might compare to a frog slowly realizing it is being boiled alive.

Directed by Kitty Green, the film unravels the intriguing story of two young American women, backpacking their way through a secluded part of Australia, who find themselves temporarily bartending at a dilapidated establishment. The place is ironically named “The Royal Hotel,” and it caters to a clientele of tough, hard-drinking miners who are scarcely acquainted with basic manners or respectful human interaction.

Portrayed by Julia Garner of “Ozark” and Jessica Henwick from “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” the women quickly become targets for crude jokes, overtly drunken misconduct, inappropriate epithets, and relentless advances. One customer even pays for his beverage by disdainfully tossing coins in their direction.

The women are frequently prompted, “Wouldn’t it hurt to smile a bit?”

With a screenplay co-written with Oscar Redding, Green delves into how women navigate a predominantly male environment and the strain it puts on their friendship. A looming threat of violence pervades the narrative, with alcohol acting as its ever-present enabler. Those who momentarily seem like heroes soon reveal their true selves and withdraw.

The film is nuanced, with a gradual buildup of humiliations and offenses until one of the characters finally admits: “I’m scared. I’m scared of this place. I’m scared of everyone and everything in this place.”

Yet, they remain.

The bar’s isolation—always several days away from the nearest bus—partly accounts for their inertia, but the women also exhibit a universal tendency to rationalize and self-blame. Cultural misunderstandings are cited, and another day ensues.

Hugo Weaving embodies the bar’s proprietor, dictating the rules of acceptable misbehavior. The moral compass of the film, however, is Ursula Yovich’s character, who boldly challenges authority and whose departure ushers in unrestrained chaos.

“The Royal Hotel” offers a bleak—some might say realistic—take on gender dynamics. Both genders fail to comprehend one another; early attempts at conversation are routinely overwhelmed by ambient noise. It poses the question: How does one justify ending up cleaning vomit in a run-down Australian bar?

The film fittingly opens with a somber rendition of Men at Work’s “Down Under,” echoing its central themes. The cinematic experience is akin to Alex Garland’s refined horror film “Men,” which also serves as a critique of toxic masculinity without preaching. The concluding scene is likely to elicit applause, albeit leaving audiences contemplating a somewhat ambiguous message.

Released by Neon, “The Royal Hotel” is rated R for “language throughout, sexual content, and nudity.” It has a running time of 91 minutes and earns a rating of three out of four stars.

MPAA classification of R: Restricted. Individuals under 17 require an accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Online Source: The Royal Hotel – Neon Rated

Mark Kennedy can be found at Twitter

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More about The Royal Hotel review

• The Royal Hotel – Official Site
• MPAA Ratings Guide
• Director Kitty Green’s Filmography
• Julia Garner’s IMDb Profile
• Jessica Henwick’s IMDb Profile
• Men at Work’s “Down Under” Song Details
• Article on Gender Dynamics in Films
• Mark Kennedy’s Twitter