Starring Jodie Foster, Jeff Goldblum, Dave Bautista, Zachary Quinto

Directed by Drew Pearce

Global Road Entertainment, in cinemas now

In Los Angeles 2028 a riot has broken out over the privatisation of water and a group of criminals seek refuge in an emergency room for the underworld.

Much like John Wick’s Continental Hotel, which exists to service the criminal fraternity while still enforcing strict rules, Drew Pearce has written and directed a movie where the eponymous hotel is a members-only establishment where the clientele are offered anonymity and space to recover. Unfortunately, while it boasts a stellar cast (Jodie Foster, Jeff Goldblum, Dave Bautista, Zachary Quinto) its low-budget and pedestrian storytelling mean that it’s never more than a forgettable way to pass the time.

Jodie Foster is Jean Thomas, a doctor who is unable to work in regular practice following a trauma in her past. This is one of many heavily-signposted scenes of foreshadowing that include that perennial favourite, Chekhov’s gun, though this time round it’s baby elephant tranquilliser.

Filmed in a single, isolated location, bar a couple of street scenes, the hotel’s guests are named after the suite to which they’ve been assigned. Sofia Boutella (The Mummy, Star Trek Beyond) is hit-girl Nice, who coincidentally is also the former lover of Sterling K (Black Panther) Brown’s Sherman (aka Waikiki), who is recovering from a botched robbery at the beginning.

Because we’re ten years in the future, nanites are used to speed up healing and 3D printers can create replacement organs. This future-tech is all very impressive, its clinical sheen being in stark contrast to the dark hotel rooms and lobbies. But then city kingpin Jeff Goldblum checks in, together with sneering son Zachary Quinto, and it all goes very formulaic. There’s double-crossing, fighting in corridors and violent gun play, but it’s just… so-so. By the time it’s over you can’t quite believe that such a heavyweight cast signed on to such a slight, unremarkable confection.

Verdict: Low budget, low interest, low scoring, even at 94 minutes this is a drag that squanders its acting talent. I suspect you’ll be checking out early. 5/10

Nick Joy