Palace of Fun is a thrilling drama film from 2016 by filmmaker Eadward Stocks. The movie captures the escapades of two young people from London, Alasdair and Rachel, who decide to cross the seas to stay on the Irish coast for a summer. They get hired to work in a dilapidated old hotel, Palace Hotel, by the owner, Mrs. Blakeney, who seems bizarre from the start.
When they arrive, the palace seems deserted and tired, a former shell of itself. As soon as they set foot inside, they encounter a strange couple arguing on the stairs. Beneath them, they find the staff who seems to be keeping secrets. Alasdair and Rachel ignore the warnings and set up shop, mainly because the shady owner of Palace Hotel, Mrs. Blakeney, does not give them a choice. They end up cutting deals and runs around with the Palace's dubious lot, and things might have great for the best friends, but they don't.
Alasdair and Rachel meet other guests, including a distant cousin on holiday, Emily, and her daughter, Mia, who seems to have a bond with the hotel's caretaker, Mr. Dakin. Alasdair plays tennis with Emily, whilst Rachel takes care of Mia, a charming little girl who thinks the Palace A Hotel is a castle. However, things get deep and strange when guests start to disappear mysteriously.
Palace of Fun is a smart movie that explores friendship, love, and the power of trust. It's a tale of how people let their guard down in the guise of fun and enjoy simple moments while ignoring the signs that point to calamity.
The underlying themes of the Palace of Fun are what make this movie one to watch. Tribulations push people over the edge, and for Alasdair and Rachel, Palace Hotel seemed to be the appeal. The remote location, the whisper of the waves, the innocence and mystery of nature all drew them in. But the hotel blessed on them a stronger pull, and soon they were in too deep.
The movie centers on Alasdair, played by Andrew Mullan, who portrays the character to perfection. He is a typical Londoner, confident in his skin, and full of himself, although not irritatingly so. Mullan commands attention in every scene he appears in, and his role matters a great deal in the plot. Rachel, played by Phoebe Naughton, is a softer character than Alasdair, with more reservations than her friend. Her cautious yet friendly demeanor makes her the perfect foil to Alasdair's brashness.
The movie does a great job of building up suspense, particularly in the last act. It sets the scene early, highlighting the eeriness of the Hotel and letting the tension build up gradually. The suspenseful music throughout the film is mostly instrumental pieces with crescendos that enhance the eerie feel of the hotel. Palace of Fun could pass for a horror movie, but its premise is so much more than that.
In conclusion, Palace of Fun is a film worth watching, particularly if you're into mysteries and storylines that leave you guessing until the end. It's a tense thriller that will leave you guessing all the way. The beautiful cinematography adds to the film's charm with beautiful scenes and a well-executed suspenseful feeling. It's a clever and poignant film that will keep you glued to the screen, eager to know what the next twist will be. If you're a fan of soul-searching plus eerie cinematic worlds, this film is for you.
Palace of Fun is a 2016 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 21 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.2.
