Sindre Kaspersen Austrian screenwriter and director Jessica Hausner's second feature film which she wrote, premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 57th Cannes International Film Festival in 2004, was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 29th Toronto International Film Festival in 2004 and is an Austrian-German co-production which was produced by Austrian director and producer Antonin Svoboda, producer Suzanne Marian, producer Philippe Bober and Austrian cinematographer and producer Martin Gschlacht. It tells the story about Irene, a young woman who arrives at a grand hotel in the Austrian Alps where she has been hired to work as a receptionist. Irene looks forward to getting started with her new job, but her perception of her position changes when she learns about the woman she has replaced who strangely disappeared. Irene tries to find out more about the woman by asking the other employees, but they ignore her and as time goes by she begins to wonder whether or not her life is in danger. Precisely and acutely directed by Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner, this brilliantly paced fictional tale which is narrated from the protagonist's point of view, draws a dense portrayal of a dutiful and sociable woman who begins to reconsider her line of work at a less crowded countryside hotel when she becomes aware of the enigmatic story about her predecessor. While notable for it's Gothic milieu depictions, sterling production design by production designer Katharina Wöpperman, cinematography by the director's frequent collaborator Martin Gschlacht, editing by Austrian film editor Karina Ressler and significant use of sound, this subtle and modestly romanticizing psychological thriller contains some fine use of music. This cryptic, profoundly mysterious and character-driven horror story where a remote hotel functions a one of the central characters, is impelled and reinforced by it's minimalistic and rigorously structured style of filmmaking, lurking tension, cogent narrative structure, esoteric characters, the efficiently understated acting performance by Austrian actress Franziska Weisz as the female protagonist and a good supporting acting performances by Austrian actress Birgit Minichmayr. A dark, nuanced and poignantly atmospheric mystery.

mtrubic I didn't see much in terms of original thinking by the director. Much of it seemed hap-hazzardly borrowed from the work of other horror movies directors' devices. Parts were mind numbingly dull, especially to sophisticated audiences. Namely the hallway scenes that fade to black. More closeups on facial expressions of fear were needed rather mere darkness.The person in the next chair who nudged me awake said not to worry about it - he wished he could fall asleep too.I hope that the disappointment of Hotel won't be reflective in "You bet Your Life (2005)" which airs at this years film festival and has the same producer - Antonin SvobodaIts funny how you can remember parts of a bad movie more than a year after you see so many good ones.

too_short5 I Didn't get it. Okey if there had been a creepy feeling then this movie had been much better, but I felt nothing. This movie was just weird and not good. Felt like It was a home made movie that students have done for the school or something. And I didn't think the acting was any good. Everyone had the same face expression all the time. The best with this movie was the picture of her on the movie. Everyone who wants to see this movie, Don't because you will be so disappointed and you waste money. I really felt I did so. Some people maybe think this type of movies is interesting, but I don't know what it could be thats so terrific? I give it:3/10

JohnnyLarocque HOTEL is about a young girl who is hired as a receptionist in an isolated, apparently inaccessible hotel in the Austrian Alps. Her co- workers are not responsive to her arrival, and to make matters worse, the girl she replaced was said to have disappeared. This description reminded me of the only film to truly scared me, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Second time director Jessica Hausner however, is no Kubrick.The characters in this film are very one dimensional. Even the main character Irene, who finds herself in some situations that might scare a normal person, does not react at all. As a direct result, neither does the audience. The environment was also very bland. You would think the director would scout a location with some atmosphere for a psychodrama, but instead we're shown a very boring well kept hotel. This film is shot without any style whatsoever. The director must have thought a few of the scenes were terrifying (walking down a hallway, or looking into the woods), as she showed them over and over again. The conclusion was uninspired and predictable.Note to amateur filmmakers everywhere ... If I can't put myself in the place of one of the films characters, and the situation isn't unusual or intense, and the environment does not seem unwelcoming, THERE IS NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF. Your psychodrama will not work. Geez, I thought that would be obvious. (3/10)