Niagara Motel (2006)

Director:

Gary Yates

Writers:

Dani Romain (writer)
George F. Walker (writer)

Release Date:

24 March 2006 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Pack your bags.

Plot:

In Niagara Motel, a group of struggling individuals cross paths at a low-rent motel in the tourist Mecca of Niagara Falls...

Plot Keywords:

Shallow Grave | Niagara Falls | Motel | Suicide | Motel Sex

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Craig Ferguson	...	Phillie
Anna Friel	...	Denise
Caroline Dhavernas	...	Loretta
Peter Keleghan	...	Henry
Kristen Holden-Ried	...	R.J.
Tom Barnett	...	Dave
Catherine Fitch	...	Sophie
Janet-Laine Green	...	Helen
Krista Bridges	...	Sandy
Normand Daneau	...	Gilles
Damir Andrei	...	Boris
Pierre Collin	...	Claude
Danièle Lorain	...	Lucille
Kevin Pollak	...	Michael
Wendy Crewson	...	Lily

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Muse Entertainment Enterprises

Trivia:

Based on George F. Walker's six play series, Suburban Motel.

Movie Connections:

References Niagara (1953)

Soundtrack:

What a Difference a Day Makes

Well-worn story saved by impressive performances

Less shabby-chic, more chic-hole, the eponymous motel is home to an assortment of losers drawn to Niagara for anything but the view.

Permanently drunk hotel manager Phillie (Craig Ferguson. Annoying.) uses whiskey to hide the pain of losing his wife. Recovering addict Denise (Anna Friel in a very impressively layered performance) wants her baby back. A middle-aged couple argue a bit. Groundbreaking, I'm sure.

Well-worn as the story may be, it is rescued by some delightful performances. Friel is a revelation, but it's Canadian beauty Dhavernas who really shines as a naïve waitress on the verge of becoming a low-budget 'adult star'.

Never quite as 'darkly comic' or 'genuinely tragic' as it thinks it is, Niagara Motel is the film Todd Solondz would make had he been more popular at school.