Before 'Weapons,' This Underappreciated Julia Garner Thriller Might've Been Her Most Haunting Film

There aren’t many stars who are having a better 2025 than Julia Garner, as she was the best-reviewed aspect of Wolf Man, introduced a totally new interpretation of the Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and delivered a chilling performance in Weapons. While Garner had already proven herself as an actress on the rise thanks to her role in Ozark, which earned her several Emmy Awards, it’s evident that she is becoming one of the most exciting genre actresses of her generation. Weapons is a haunting examination of collective loss and societal collapse, but the gripping psychological thriller The Royal Hotel is still the most terrifying film that Garner has ever appeared in.

The Royal Hotel is the second film that Garner worked on with director Kitty Green, as they previously collaborated on the underrated drama The Assistant. Set within the intense world of a film distribution office, Garner played a terrified young assistant who suspects that her boss is about to undergo a public scandal in the vein of Harvey Weinstein. While The Assistant was a powerful examination of sexism and silence, it was also a very small-scale, independent production that benefited from its lack of resources. However, The Royal Hotel is a masterful confinement thriller that shows the insurmountable terror of being trapped in an unknown area.

What Is ‘The Royal Hotel’ About?

Garner stars in The Royal Hotel as the American backpacker Hanna, who is traveling across Australia on her vacation with her best friend, Liv (Jessica Henwick). Although they had initially planned to spend their trip relaxing and checking out local tourist destinations, Hanna and Liv find that they are out of money and resources, and most find temporary employment to remain safe and secure. The pair is eventually able to find work at a remote pub in the outback owned by the cranky native Billy (Hugo Weaving), who seems to know many of the regular customers that come in constantly. Although initially, Liv and Hanna are surprised by the wild parties that occur at the pub, the behavior of their consistent clients begins to draw their ire due to the constant misogynistic comments and sexual harassment. As Hanna realizes that she’s slowly been boxed out of her safety net, she desperately tries to find a means of escaping without attracting any unwanted attention.

The Royal Hotel created suspense by taking the characters out of their comfort zones, putting them in a situation in which they do not know what to expect. While Hanna is quick to criticize the behavior of the Australian natives, Hanna tries to remind her that, as Americans, it is not their right to make judgments about a different country’s cultural norms. However, it soon becomes clear to Hanna that they are not being given even the most basic degree of respect, as Billy is not willing to even give them the benefit of privacy while showering. Garner is in an interesting place as an actress, as Hanna has to be forceful in defending herself without being exposed to additional danger. While she has come to recognize that some degree of misogyny might need to be tolerated to be gainfully employed, she has to watch out for moments that cross the line into being legitimately threatening. Hanna is also under the additional pressure to protect Liv, whom she has almost come to think of as a little sister. While Liv is more willing to luxuriate in the attention that she has received from the men, Hanna is worried that this will make it easier for her to be manipulated or coerced into doing something she doesn’t want to do.

‘The Royal Hotel’ Is a Horrifying Look at the Culture of Sexism

The use of a singular location helps increase the tension in The Royal Hotel, as it is made clear that there is no one close by who could help Liv and Hanna, and that they would not be able to reach out to anyone for assistance that could be there in a timely manner. While they are not burdened by a language barrier, Hanna and Liv are so unfamiliar with the local customs that it becomes easier for them to be deceived, as The Royal Hotel embodies the ultimate tourism nightmare. The harassment that they receive takes multiple forms, as Billy’s unwillingness to offer them appropriate compensation shows the ways that misogyny can be used for financial attacks. Hanna also finds herself ostracized for not wanting to be romantically or sexually involved with the customers, which leads her to being labeled as “anti-social” and “nasty.”

The Royal Hotel is painfully realistic, as the film only incorporates action-packed elements when the situation has already reached its breaking point, indicating that it would be impossible for Hanna and Liv to sustain themselves for much longer. Although it is certainly informed by specific elements of Sydney culture, as the film was produced by the Australian Film Commission, Green tackles universal themes about gender dynamics that are true of any location. Although Garner has faced off with more visually dynamic, viscerally scary, and physically intimidating forces in the different thrillers that she appears in, The Royal Hotel allowed her to play a unique type of “final girl,” as it is one that could very well exist in real life.

The Royal Hotel is available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.