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So many young (and not-to-young) people dream of breaking away from the daily grind and traveling the world. But while most films about these world travelers tend to focus on the sightseeing and parties of the experience, The Royal Hotel explores what happens when the money runs out.
The Royal Hotel follows American travelers Hanna and Liv (Julia Garner and Jessica Henwick) to a remote Australian mining town, where they’ve taken a job at a run-down pub to make some money before continuing on their adventures. They soon find themselves stuck in the middle of nowhere, spending their nights serving round after round of drinks to a bunch of unruly—and generally disrespectful—men and spending their days cleaning up after them before starting all over again. But while Liv sees it as a part of their adventure, Hanna becomes increasingly uncomfortable.
Originally, both of these young women may have seen the trip as a way to get away and enjoy wild parties on the other side of the world—but their first night at the The Royal Hotel changes everything for Hanna, who wants no part of this kind of party. The crowd at the Royal is more than just wild. The bar’s patrons are rowdy and crude, and they clearly see the two new girls as their entertainment—to be ogled and jeered at and possibly enjoyed at the end of the night. And the film shows the bar’s patrons as Hanna sees them: disorderly and disruptive and potentially dangerous.
There are moments of beauty here, in the middle of nowhere. One of the bar’s patrons takes the women to a nearby swimming hole, and they’re able to race by a kangaroo out in the wilderness. But most of the film is dark and haunting, with an ominous air, which is only heightened by the desolate seclusion of the area around the bar.
Julia Garner is once again remarkable in her role as the stable, responsible friend—the one who’s constantly keeping an eye out for herself and her less vigilant traveling companion. And though the story may not be the typical thriller, the director sets the tone early on, telling a story that’s more eerie and atmospheric than action-packed.
The Royal Hotel may not be a terrifying film, but it’s definitely a haunting one—a slow burn of a thriller that will have viewers waiting for everything to fall apart for these adventurous young travelers.
You can venture into the wilderness with these young travelers when The Royal Hotel arrives in theaters and on demand on October 6, 2023.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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