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Introduction
When the vast and unforgiving Australian Outback calls, most imagine adventure, golden sunsets, and dusty roads leading to stories worth retelling. But in The Royal Hotel, that allure comes wrapped in menace, as two young women find themselves far from the safety of city lights. Directed by Kitty Green, this slow-burn psychological thriller turns a simple job at a remote pub into a nerve-tightening dance between survival and trust. Loosely inspired by the documentary Hotel Coolgardie, the film merges gritty realism with a simmering tension that never truly lets you breathe easy.
Watch the ‘The Royal Hotel‘ Official Trailer
Plot Overview — Spoiler-Free
The Royal Hotel follows Hanna and Liv, two American backpackers on a sun-soaked trip through Australia. Out of cash and looking for quick work, they accept a bartending job in an isolated Outback mining town. What begins as a chance to refill their wallets quickly becomes a test of endurance. The pub they work in is rough, the regulars even rougher, and every night the atmosphere feels like it could tip from rowdy laughter into something darker. The more time Hanna and Liv spend there, the more the heat, alcohol, and isolation seem to peel back the thin veneer of civility in this remote corner of the world. And when boundaries are crossed, the women must decide whether to adapt, fight back, or flee before the Outback swallows them whole.
What Worked Well
One of The Royal Hotel’s greatest strengths lies in its performances. Julia Garner delivers a layered portrayal of Hanna — cautious, watchful, and always calculating her next move. Opposite her, Jessica Henwick’s Liv is vibrant and spontaneous, providing a perfect counterbalance as someone more willing to immerse herself in the chaos. This contrast not only drives much of the film’s tension but also reflects the different ways people react to unfamiliar and threatening environments.
The supporting cast adds remarkable authenticity. Toby Wallace’s Matty and Hugo Weaving’s Billy never feel like caricatures; instead, they radiate that unpredictable energy you might encounter in a place where rules are more social than legal. The unpredictability of every interaction keeps the audience leaning forward, unsure of who might turn dangerous next.
Visually, the film is striking. Cinematographer Michael Latham captures the Outback with a sense of beauty laced with danger. The golden light of late afternoon washes over dusty roads and weathered walls, while dimly lit interiors trap the viewer in a haze of heat and beer-soaked tension. The pub itself becomes a character — its creaking floors, low ceilings, and oppressive air building a claustrophobic pressure cooker of human interaction.
The sound design subtly amplifies this unease. From the murmur of drunken conversations to the metallic clink of glasses being set down a little too hard, every sound feels deliberate. There’s no bombastic score here; instead, the soundtrack lets silence, sudden outbursts, and ambient noise shape the emotional rhythm.
Perhaps most importantly, Kitty Green directs with a patient hand. She resists the temptation to overload the story with high-drama moments, instead letting small interactions escalate naturally. This creates a realistic tension — the kind where danger doesn’t always scream, it creeps.
What Didn’t Work
While The Royal Hotel thrives on slow-burn tension, that pacing won’t work for every viewer. The film takes its time building atmosphere, and for those expecting fast-moving action or traditional thriller beats, certain stretches may feel static. The quiet dread is deliberate, but at times, it risks undercutting the urgency.
Some characters, particularly those on the fringes, could have been fleshed out further. Their presence contributes to the oppressive mood, but their backstories remain largely unexplored. This may be intentional, keeping them as unknowable threats, but it could leave some audiences craving more depth in understanding why the pub’s culture is as toxic as it is.
Additionally, while the ending offers a visually and emotionally satisfying release, it leaves certain questions unanswered. This ambiguity will divide audiences — some will see it as a bold, realistic choice, while others may find it frustratingly incomplete.
Final Verdict
The Royal Hotel isn’t a thrill ride in the traditional sense — it’s a slow-burn descent into a microcosm of human tension, cultural clash, and the vulnerability of being far from home. Its strength lies in authenticity, in the way it makes you feel the sticky heat, smell the stale beer, and sense the unspoken threat in the air. Julia Garner and Jessica Henwick deliver compelling performances that anchor the film, while Kitty Green’s direction ensures that even in its quietest moments, the tension never dissipates.
If you’re looking for a film that immerses you in its world, makes you feel the weight of every interaction, and lingers in your mind long after the credits, The Royal Hotel is worth the stay — though you might not sleep soundly there.
Rating: 8/10
Meta Tags
- Genre: Psychological Thriller, Drama
- Language: English
- Release Date: 23 November 2023
