Ambiguity and Tension Redefined

Read Time:4 Minute, 5 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Hotel
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Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
Year Released: 2004, 2024 4k North American premiere
Runtime: 1h 16m
Director(s): Jessica Hausner
Writer(s): Jessica Hausner
Cast: Franziska Weisz, Birgit Minichmayr, Marlene Streeruwitz, Rosa Waissnix, Christopher Schärf, Regina Fritsch
Language: German with English subtitles
Where To Watch: available now on VOD & leading digital outlets

RAVING REVIEW: If you’re unfamiliar with Jessica Hausner, you will be shortly. I’ve now watched four of her films, and I would argue that she may be one of my new favorite directors! In this film, she takes us on a journey to a remote Austrian hotel where the line between the real and the imagined becomes increasingly blurred. In this movie, Hausner crafts a narrative that’s as much about the spaces between the lines as it is about the words themselves. This isn’t your typical scream-fest; instead, it's a cerebral game that plays out in the viewer's mind, encouraging a deep dive into the nature of fear and the power of imagination. Through minimalistic storytelling and psychological complexity, Hausner invites the audience into a world where the conventional horror elements aren’t what we get. Instead, they’re replaced by an atmosphere ripe with tension and uncertainty.

With her signature approach to filmmaking, Hausner pushes the boundaries of traditional genre expectations. Tracing her cinematic evolution from a film student passionate about shaping narratives to a director in European cinema, unlike I’ve seen before, Hausner's trajectory is as compelling as the stories she tells. HOTEL stands out as a testament to her storytelling skill, offering a straightforward and intricately layered narrative, serving as a canvas on which viewers paint their fears and speculations.

The hauntingly silent corridors and the encroaching wilderness surrounding the establishment are central to HOTEL, setting the stage for a genuinely enigmatic tale. The film employs ambiguity as a tool, steering clear of typical reliance on jump scares to cultivate a lingering sense of dread. This approach redefines the horror landscape and enriches the viewer’s experience, making the journey through the hotel’s dimly lit halls a metaphor for exploring one's psyche.

Franziska Weisz's portrayal of Irene, the film's protagonist, shows the hotel's unsettling tranquility. Her nuanced and compelling performance guides the audience through a narrative that is as much about the internal landscapes of fear and desire as it is about the hotel's external environment. Coupled with striking cinematography and a meticulously crafted sound design, the film creates an immersive experience.

However, HOTEL’s commitment to minimalism and aversion to providing clear-cut answers might not be for everyone. Its subtle storytelling and emphasis on the psychological over the physical aspects of horror challenge the audience’s expectations, potentially leaving some viewers craving more conventional narrative resolutions.

HOTEL emerges as something unique, with originality and artistic integrity in a genre often dominated by spectacle over substance. It shuns the expected paths of horror, opting for a reflective and provocative exploration of what it means to be truly afraid. The film’s focus on stirring questions rather than providing answers invites contemplation of fear, imagination, and the human condition, which is rare in contemporary cinema.

Hausner's work reminds us of the expansive possibilities of film as a medium to explore human experiences. Her commitment to innovative storytelling and ability to challenge the expected norms have defined her role as a figure in the landscape of European cinema and inspired other filmmakers to think beyond traditional genre boundaries. HOTEL is an experience that engages, challenges, and haunts, proving that the journey into the unknown can be as compelling as the destination itself.

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[photo courtesy of FILM MOVEMENT]

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