THE ROYAL HOTEL (2023) Cert 18 
Julia Garner, Jessica Henwick, Hugo Weaving, Herbert Nordstrum. Directed by Kitty Green. (1hr 31m).

A gripping thriller from Australian director Kitty Green about the battle of the sexes in the Australian Outback. Despite the shift in location, it mines similar territory to Green's previous drama The Assistant, also starring acclaimed actress Julia Garner (from Ozark), as a Hollywood producer's assistant who uncovers her boss's predatory sexual behaviour. Here, Garner co-stars with Jessica Henwick as two American girls backpacking through Australia. To earn some extra cash they take a job in a remote Outback pub managed by an almost unrecognisable Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith from The Matrix), but have to deal with the increasingly rowdy behaviour of the locals. Sooner or later, enough is enough. As Green explains, this is the sort of scenario that could take place anywhere, even in the heart of a big city. "It's about alcohol-fuelled aggression, about behaviour that when left unchecked, can spiral into something terrible. The film is about what we tolerate, what we permit, what we put up with as women in those situations. And when do we stand up for ourselves, when do we say ‘no’, and when do we bring out the axe?" 

The film starts at 8pm but Ushers Bar is open for drinks and dinner from 6pm. Contact us for more details and to book for dinner.