Is ‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ Worth the Watch?

Bad Times at the El Royale, with its classic soul soundtrack and neon-drenched, retro stylings, follows the events of seven strangers who meet in 1969 at the El Royale, a hotel on the California-Nevada border that has half of its rooms on each side.

 

The film begins with vacuum salesman Seymour Laramie Sullivan (Jon Hamm), failing singer Darlene (Cynthia Erivo), and not-so-priest Father Flynn (Jeff Bridges) arriving at the quirky hotel and attempting to contact the hotel concierge. Miles (Lewis Pullman), the hotel’s concierge, bartender, bellhop, cleaner, and every other employee a hotel requires, is eventually found. The appearance of Emily (Dakota Johnson), Rose (Cailee Spaeny), and Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth) throw them all for a loop.

 

It Isn’t the Film You Expected

 

From the start, Bad Times At The El Royale appeared to be a combination between Identity and a Quentin Tarantino film. Just a lot of evil people locked in the same place, ready to do bad things to each other. Even if Goddard’s film was simply that, it would have been a great ride, albeit one that was incredibly derivative. On closer investigation, however, this is not the case.

 

The Ensemble Cast Nails It

In Bad Times At The El Royale, Drew Goddard gives us some of the best characters to hang out within 2018. There isn’t a single character that falls flat or becomes a generic background figure, and everyone involved gets their turn in the spotlight.

 

However, if I were to pick a favorite character, I’d have to say Jeff Bridges, Lewis Pullman, and Cynthia Erivo are the MVPs of Bad Times At The El Royale. Without delving into too much detail, their characters create a bond, and what began as a more freeform ensemble tale becomes increasingly focused on just a few characters.

 

It Deserves To Become a Cult Classic But It Is Not For Everyone

Everything you need to know about Bad Times At The El Royale works so well that it’s the kind of film that gets picked up by film fans after it’s already been released and might become a rabid favorite that’s defended for years. Some, like myself, will be awestruck, thinking about the magnificent cinematography, the excellent cast, and the crazy concept. Others people may find Goddard’s story plodding. However, I encourage giving this film a chance. There’s nothing else like it right now.