It's an Australian psychological buddy movie set in current times in the Australian Outback. It follows two young women touring Australia who run out of money and need to take temporary work at the isolated Royal Hotel.
Hanna (Julia Garner) and Liv (Jessica Henwick) identify as young Canadian women who run out of money in Sydney. Liv is outgoing, while Hanna is more cautious. They agree to take temporary work and travel jobs as bar servers in a rural mining area.
When they arrive after a long bus ride, they meet Carol (Ursula Yovich) and Billy (Hugo Weaving), who own the bar and live in a nearby trailer. Billy immediately uses abusive language and turns out to be an alcoholic. Carol, an Indigenous woman, cooks and tries to manage Billy. Hanna and Liv soon meet some of the scary regulars at the bar, including Matty (Toby Wallace), Teeth (James Frechville), and Dolly (Daniel Henshall). Almost everyone overuses alcohol. Many of the men are abusive, use misogynistic language, and make increasing sexual demands. The film's climax occurs when Billy and Carol need to be away from the bar for a while.
"The Royal Hotel" is a depressing movie. Garner, Henwick, and Yovich are excellent and nuanced in their roles. The male characters give solid performances but are incredibly repulsive. There is no message in the film other than illustrating that men living in relative isolation can easily become beasts.
Hanna (Julia Garner) and Liv (Jessica Henwick) identify as young Canadian women who run out of money in Sydney. Liv is outgoing, while Hanna is more cautious. They agree to take temporary work and travel jobs as bar servers in a rural mining area.
When they arrive after a long bus ride, they meet Carol (Ursula Yovich) and Billy (Hugo Weaving), who own the bar and live in a nearby trailer. Billy immediately uses abusive language and turns out to be an alcoholic. Carol, an Indigenous woman, cooks and tries to manage Billy. Hanna and Liv soon meet some of the scary regulars at the bar, including Matty (Toby Wallace), Teeth (James Frechville), and Dolly (Daniel Henshall). Almost everyone overuses alcohol. Many of the men are abusive, use misogynistic language, and make increasing sexual demands. The film's climax occurs when Billy and Carol need to be away from the bar for a while.
"The Royal Hotel" is a depressing movie. Garner, Henwick, and Yovich are excellent and nuanced in their roles. The male characters give solid performances but are incredibly repulsive. There is no message in the film other than illustrating that men living in relative isolation can easily become beasts.