Time: 91 Minutes
Age Rating: R16 – Violence, offensive language & sexual material
Cast:
Julia Garner as Hanna
Jessica Henwick as Liv
Hugo Weaving as Billy
Toby Wallace as Matty
Director: Kitty Green

I heard about The Royal Hotel and meant to watch it around the time when it was released, but never got around to it. I finally got to watch it after it was shown at the local film society, and it was quite good.

The entirety of The Royal Hotel is unsettling and uncomfortable with an unravelling tension throughout. It might not be in the horror genre, but it certainly feels like a horror movie at times, especially with the air of potential threats felt constantly. It’s a simple movie and rather short at 90 minutes in length and while the tightness does work well, I feel like it could’ve afforded to be a little longer. The details and background about the lead characters running away from something and towards Australia are vague and blank. Perhaps it’s deliberate, but I wished that we got some further context about them.

Julia Garner and Jessica Henwick are fantastic, each of their characters are distinctly different from each other and they share a believable friendship dynamic. Hugo Weaving is also great and memorable in a supporting role here.

It is very well directed by Kitty Green. It’s greatly shot and it feels very grounded and real, especially in this rundown bar and location it largely takes place. It has a terrifying atmosphere which builds tension and is uncomfortable and uneasy, never feeling safe.

The Royal Hotel is an engaging, unnerving and tense thriller with incredible performances.