[Fantasia 2025] FILM REVIEW: Hotel Acropole

Hotel Acropole - Fantasia World Premiere Review

Director: Sarah Lasry

Starring: Judith Zins, Sébastien Houbani, Farida Rahouadj

Written by: Sarah Lasry

Produced by: Francesca Betteni-Barnes, Charlotte Vande Vyvre

Cinematography by: Manuel Bolaños

Original Score by: Pierre Oberkampf

Synopsis:

A pregnant woman whose partner has recently died gets a visit from an old friend at her hotel room.

Thoughts:

French writer/director Sarah Lasry delivers a sensual, thought provoking, body horror short film that wouldn't look out of place as part of any of David Cronenberg's back catalogue.

At the Hotel Acropole, Rivka has checked in for some much needed peace and quiet after the death of her partner Hugo, the father to her unborn child. Prior to seeing Rivka enjoy her hotel room, we see her lying on her side being penetrated by a female doctor, but not where you think. Rivka has a horrendous wound on her back and the doctor is extremely worried, claiming that the wound is "very contagious". The wound appeared shortly after Hugo died a few months ago and it refuses to heal.

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The day before Rivka is due to spread Hugo's ashes, she gets a knock on her hotel window from an old friend Abel. Well actually he is an old friend of Hugo's and a former lover of Rivka. What happens next is the rekindling of a romance between Rivka and Abel and a highly sensuous and rather perverse act involving, you've guessed it, the ghastly bloody wound on Rivka's back.

In the film's short 20 minute runtime Sarah Lasry is able to create so much palpable tension and sexual confliction. Abel and Rivka explain their situation without too much messy exposition and you can really feel the natural bond they have and the toil that this unexpected reunion has created.

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There's all sorts of analogy that could be taken from this. What does the wound represent? Where did it come from and why does it only begin to heal in the aftermath of her reunion with Abel? And why is it on her back? Is it something that she doesn't want to see? Sarah Lasry doesn't hold back during the intimate scenes either, which makes for some quite uncomfortable shots, especially of the bloody wound, which is all practical effects.

'Hotel Acropole' is a really well shot contemplative body horror with a captivating and committed performance from a pregnant Judith Zins, that is sure to turn heads.

Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

-Gavin Logan

'Hotel Acropole' received its World Premiere at Fantasia '25 on July 27th