The Royal Hotel (2023)

Two American backpackers find themselves trapped in a hostile, alcohol-fueled culture while working at a remote outback pub.

The story

Two young American backpackers, Hanna and Liv, travel to a remote Australian outback mining town to work as bartenders at the Royal Hotel after running out of money in Sydney. Upon arrival, they meet the pub's owner, Billy, and his wife Carol. While working, Hanna becomes increasingly disturbed by the casual sexism, misogynistic jokes, and inappropriate behavior displayed by the predominantly male patrons. While Liv initially brushes these behaviors off as cultural differences, Hanna begins to feel unsafe as they navigate the pub's toxic atmosphere and the unstable relationship between the owners.

First release year

2023

Runtime (minutes)

91

Production countries

Australia

Original languages

English

Directors

Kitty Green

Writers

Kitty Green · writer; Oscar Redding · writer

Cast and characters

Julia Garner; Jessica Henwick; Toby Wallace; Hugo Weaving

Genres

psychological thriller; drama

Themes

misogyny; toxic masculinity; isolation; alcoholism

Tone and mood

tense; chilling; dreadful

Premise and plot tags

based on actual events; buddy film; feminist film

Source material / true-story basis

Inspired by the 2016 documentary Hotel Coolgardie by Pete Gleeson.

Content notes

misogyny

Reception

The film received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising its tense atmosphere and its examination of toxic masculinity and alcohol culture.

Reported review scores

Metacritic · score: 77 · scale: 100 · review count: 35

Awards and nominations

Best Film · San Sebastián International Film Festival · 2023 · Nominee; RTVE-Otra Mirada Award · San Sebastián International Film Festival · 2023 · Winner; Outstanding International Feature Film · Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival · 2023 · Winner; Best Lead Actress in Film · AACTA Awards · 2023 · Nominee

Production trivia

The film was shot in the town of Yatina, South Australia.; The film was inspired by a documentary about Finnish backpackers.

Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.

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