“The Royal Hotel”
is a 2023 Australian psychological thriller film directed by Kitty Green, who co-wrote the screenplay with Oscar Redding. It stars Julia Garner, Jessica Henwick, Toby Wallace, and Hugo Weaving. The film is inspired by the 2016 documentary
“Hotel Coolgardie”
by Pete Gleeson.
Americans Hanna (Garner) and Liv (Henwick) are backpacking in Australia and take a temporary live-in job in a remote Outback mining town. Soon, they find themselves trapped in an unnerving situation that rapidly grows out of their control.
The duo, who claim to be Canadian because
“everyone loves Canadians,”
Are on holiday in Australia when they become strapped for cash due to Liv’s spending and drinking habits.
They take a temporary live-work job at the titular Royal Hotel, a desolate, faded pub that takes a train, a bus, and a very dusty car ride to get to. It’s the only waterhole for miles and appears to be the only building within a few hours’ drive.
The fraying relationship between Hanna and Liv is tested further as they become friendly with the locals.
While Liv embraces the men’s work-hard, party-hard mentality, Hanna remains more reserved, always aware of the danger lurking behind a drunken man’s charm.
