“The Royal Hotel” released in theaters Oct. 6, a relatively indie debut that had only drawn a couple drowsy moviegoers. I hadn’t even watched promotional material for the movie, and I assumed it to be a roguish adventure involving backwater cowboy ruffians and a whole lot of alcohol. I was right about the alcohol. The film’s director, Kitty Green, brings out serious commentary about gender roles and harnesses their most disquieting aspects for this Australian-based thriller.
The story stars Hanna (Julia Garner) and Liv (Jessica Henwick) who are two best friends that decide to take an irresponsibly-planned, months-long vacation to Australia. Finding themselves too broke to compete with the casual fun of Sydney, they take up an offer to bartend a pub called the Royal Hotel for extra cash. They are informed that the two will be working at a rural establishment in the Outback, where the customer base is heavily male-dominated. Soon enough, they arrive and begin working for the pub’s owner.
The film isn’t shy about suspense, and it evolves as a dependable thriller movie does: steadily building tension until a cascading race to deliver the heart-palpitating finale. It also cleverly enforces key ideas, showing how when Liz or Hanna involve themselves with alcohol, their guards slip and they become as hazardously vulnerable as the movie’s male characters become unshackled under intoxication. Hanna only has a drink on three separate occasions during the film, and those are also the moments when her alertness falters and her situation grows perilous.
Julia Garner manifested her role as Hanna seamlessly. Her uneasy expressions showed the true turmoil of unwanted advances or disgustful jokes. It was clear whenever Hanna made an internal realization about her place in the pub and how she was judged. Jessica Henwick also portrayed her character Liv very well, especially when she acted in highly emotional scenes. Additionally, the remaining cast were consistently strong.
One problem that drags down my thoughts of acclaim is Liv’s practically undeserved induction as a hero at the end of the movie. Liv was unhelpful and dismissive of Hanna’s concerns over the two’s own safety, despite Hanna’s Herculean efforts to tow Liv away from dangerous deplorables. Liv never reacted properly to the pair’s worsening situation until Hanna herself was almost incapacitated, instead playing the part of a freewheeling drunk fool. Liv was as much a victim as Hanna in the film, and rightfully got vengeance on the sickening existence of the Royal Hotel, but to portray that she “pulled her own weight” ignores the fact that she was an ignorant friend.
“The Royal Hotel” is simply terrifying for its evocation of some of peoples’ darkest motivations, and how much of an omnipresent struggle it is for women to contend with constant predators. It is an abyss that “The Royal Hotel,” through a combination of expectation and apprehension, drags in front of viewers to recoil at, and in the ugliest ways possible. No individual should ever have to go through the same type of fear found in this movie, and hopefully yet it is a reminder of society’s blind spots in providing a safe, comfortable environment for everyone.
“The Royal Hotel:” ★★★★★
