Director: Abel Ferrara
Screenplay: Abel Ferrara, Chris Zois
Starring: Christopher Walken, Willem Dafoe, Asia Argento
Country: USA
Running Time: 93 minutes
Year: 1998
BBFC Certificate: 18
With the recent publication of his memoir Scene, the reissue of the notorious Ms.45 for home cinema and a retrospective of his films currently streaming on the Criterion Channel, the critical rehabilitation of Abel Ferrara has never been more prominent within film culture. For a director whose gritty and visceral filmography has often been so critically misunderstood, this is a long overdue development. Ferrara has always seemed both behind and ahead of the times in which he has lived, and there is no clearer example of that than his 1998 film New Rose Hotel.
Adapted from a short story by cyberpunk pioneer William Gibson, the film delves into a techno feudal future not too distant from our own, where oligarchs and tech companies engage in espionage to not just steal ideas, but the people capable of these breakthroughs; in this world, scientists are the new visionaries. This is where self-styled ‘extraction agents’ like Fox (Christopher Walken) and X (Willem Dafoe) make their fortunes by offering their services to the highest bidder. Their target is Hiroshi, a cutting-edge scientist both coveted and feared by rival companies. The agents hatch a plan to snare him using a sex worker named Sandii (Asia Argento), with whom X is already involved. Despite his misgivings, X tutors Sandii in readiness for the high-risk operation ahead.
The cyberpunk espionage plot echoes that of other pre and post millennial films of the era, notably Olivier Assayas’ Demonlover, but Ferrara handles the story with the humanity of the characters as his primary focus. Channelling more than a little of his director, Christopher Walken plays Fox as garrulous teller of tall tales, a broken-backed dreamer whose enthusiastic raps seem designed more to convince himself rather than his partner in crime. As X, Dafoe is a brilliant study in passivity, loyal to a fault, his own thoughts and actions always determined by others even when confronted by evidence. Between them, Asia Argento is stunning as the would-be seductress and the key to the entire operation – in more ways than one. Ferrara stages each encounter in a down at heel future world of homogenous hotel rooms, dimly lit clubs and anonymous skyscrapers, with judicious use of the digital technology available at the time to convey the surveillance environment the characters use for their own ends.
‘Corporations, governments, what’s the difference?’ Fox mutters at one point, inadvertently giving away his and X’s positions as pawn in a vast game. As things begin to go south for the pair, Ferrara’s clever use of flashbacks to reveals the true subtext of scenes we think we’ve already understood. It is this emphasis on character and emotion that elevates the film above the trappings of its time, such the trip-hop score by Schooly D and the primitive digital shotmaking. Argento and Dafoe possess genuine screen chemistry, which grounds their various scenes together in emotional authenticity, whilst the film’s background is littered with a glittering cast including Annabella Sciorra, Victor Argo and the composter Ryuichi Sakamoto. A brilliant character study with a set of tremendous actors delivering some of their very best performances, New Rose Hotel is one of Ferrara late 90s gems.
BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES
- 2K restoration from the 35mm interpositive by Vinegar Syndrome, approved by Abel Ferrara
- Original 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound
- Audio commentary by co-screenwriter Christ Zois (1998)
- New interviews with director Abel Ferrara and star Asia Argento (2026, 18 and 20 mins)
- Wild and Woolly – an interview with star Willem Dafoe (2025, 8 mins)
- Interview with critic Beatrice Loayza (2026, 13 mins)
- Trailer
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original promotional materials
- Booklet featuring new writing on the film by Brad Stevens, author of Abel Ferrara: The Moral Vision
- Limited edition of 4000 copies, presented in and full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
Chris Zois’ commentary is as clipped and economical as his prose style, providing valuable insights into what he wrote for each character in each given scene, and then how each actor interpreted those lines. How and why those differences occur is where the magic happens onscreen. It is always a joy to both watch and listen to the inimitable Abel Ferrara do his thing, and he gives good value here once again by breaking down just how the film came together, how it was ‘crystal clear’ in his mind what he had to do, and how ‘denigrated’ the film was upon release. Hearing Ferrara say ‘ya dig?’ should put a spring in every cinephile’s step.
The interview with Asia Argento is a fantastic addition to the set, detailing her time as a young actor prior to working with Ferrara, going into great depth about how she collaborated with him on her character, and her explanation for her own motivations for what you see transpire onscreen. I now have to track down Abel/Asia, the documentary she made whilst filming New Rose Hotel. Although short, the interview with Willem Dafoe is excellent, as he generously gives most of the credit to Argento and Walken. He is effusive on behalf of Walken’s acting chops both in this film and in general with real solidarity.
Beatrice Loayza’s thoughts on the film are incisive and accentuate the positive, as well as illuminate the general millennial context of the era (I’m pleased that she also makes the link between New Rose Hotel and Demonlover). She also makes the important point that the elements that date it are central to the charm of the film to the modern eye.
The trailer is the most dated of the special features, making the film appear more like an action thriller – the original treatment for the film did have Arnold Schwartzenegger attached to it – with trio hop beats pulsing over the visuals.
The accompaying booklet wasn’t available for me to review, although I look forward to reading Brad Stevens’ essay when the limited edition blu ray is released.