DbcultAccessing Vault...
6.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Hotel Splendide remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly? Probably not. If you are a completionist who likes digging up these dusty old relics, you might get a kick out of the atmosphere. Everyone else will likely find it a bit of a slog. It’s got that specific, creaky energy that feels like a play recorded on a shoestring budget.
The whole premise is classic stuff. You get a guy, Jerry Mason, who stumbles into an inheritance. Then, naturally, there is loot buried where it shouldn't be. It feels a bit like a stripped-down version of Way Out West, but with way more hallways and way less charm.
There is this one scene where a character just stands by a window for way too long. I’m pretty sure the actor forgot their next line. They just stare out at the sea, and the camera doesn't cut away. It becomes this weird, hypnotic, uncomfortable silence.
Also, the way the robbers act is bizarre. They aren't menacing at all. They mostly just look like they are waiting for a bus. Every time they try to look tough, it feels like they’re just trying to remember where they parked the car. It’s honestly kind of charming in a bad way.
It reminds me a bit of the aimless wandering in Why Beaches Are Popular, but without the benefit of being an actual documentary. Just a lot of people walking in and out of rooms looking confused. Sometimes, it’s just fun to watch a movie collapse on itself.
If you go in expecting a high-octane heist, you’ll be disappointed. If you go in wanting to see some people in fancy hats scurry around a basement, well, you’re in luck. I don’t know why I watched this. But I did. And now, neither of us can get that hour back. 🤷♂️