Dave Bautista and Jodie Foster star in a scene from the movie "Hotel Artemis." The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (CNS/Global Road Entertainment)

By Catholic News Service

The hostelry of the title is, in fact, a secret, strongly secured hospital for criminals in the dystopian Los Angeles of the near future. As the riot-torn city spirals into chaos, a cross-section of underworld types seeks shelter there, under the protection of the clinic’s troubled, eccentric head nurse (Jodie Foster) and the muscle-bound orderly (Dave Bautista) who enforces her strict rules. They include an assassin-for-hire (Sofia Boutella), two brothers (Sterling K. Brown and Brian Tyree Henry) wounded in a robbery attempt, a surly arms dealer (Charlie Day) and, eventually, the dreaded kingpin (Jeff Goldblum) who owns the place.

Writer-director Drew Pearce gets things off to a stylish start, and Foster’s blend of toughness and vulnerability is compelling. But by the time the hyperviolent conclusion is reached, gore and bone-crunching have replaced creativity.

Much bloody, sometimes grisly, violence, drug use, sexual references, about a dozen profanities, at least one milder oath, pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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