Bad Times at The El Royale: Actually a Really Good Time!
Bad Times at The El Royale is a fun, dark and twisting adventure of a movie. It's a little bit quirky, a little bit violent and is like the love child of a Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson film. Taking place over the course of one night, the lives of seven strangers collide at The El Royale motel, located directly on the border of California and Nevada. Shifting back and forth between present day and each character's past, the film winds its way up to a bloody conclusion where no one is safe. What works particularly well for the film is the way it moves seamlessly between dark, quirky comedy to violent thriller. There's laughter one minute and blood splatter the next. It's a wild ride, and a seemingly odd one, but it works thanks to the talent of writer and director Drew Goddard. The end does gets a bit ridiculous and the plot takes a turn that I was not expecting. It's almost as if the first and second halves of the film are two different mini films but I enjoyed it so much that it was not particularly bothersome. The music, costumes and set design are also incredible-honestly, it's worth seeing for the soundtrack alone. I haven't seen a movie in a while where I was this stunned by the production design. Taking place in the late 60s, the sets and wardrobes are both classic of the decade and hokey in the best way. The physical motel itself is both inviting and creepy and essentially becomes its own character-adding to the mystery and allure of this film.
The film focuses on one character at a time, bouncing between flashbacks and the current events of the night from each person's different perspective until the story streamlines in the present at the final scene. This structure of ever changing time and perspective could have been jarring and all over the place but because I found myself invested in the characters, and wanting to know more about each one, it was fun and entertaining. The constant change in narrative is done in a way that only adds to the fun of the film and makes the wild plot work.
The real strength of Bad Times is its characters. Jeff Bridges is, as always, incredible. We first meet him as a soft spoken, kind priest but it is clear that there is something darker behind who he projects himself to be. Cynthia Erivo is the best part of the film. Both her character's development and her incredible singing talent are a marvel to watch. Dakota Johnson is compelling as a girl on the run from her past. Chris Hemsworth is endearing in his bad guy role and should really do darker, villainous characters more often. What's great is that each character has a hint of mystery and a certain darkness to them that makes the whole film unpredictable. Is anyone really who they say the are? Short answer: no and it's great fun to watch everyone's truth unravel.
Overall, this was an immensely entertaining film that I very much enjoyed. It's definitely worth seeing, if only to support this type of niche, genre bending film that is becoming more of a rarity in Hollywood.
FRANKLY: The El Royale is a good, twisty, thrilling time 4/5.