Bad Times at the El Royale-2018
Director-Drew Goddard
Starring-Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson
Scott’s Review #919
Reviewed July 10, 2019
Grade: A-
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), directed by Drew Goddard, known for crafting the horror film The Cabin in the Woods (2012) is a gem crossing multiple genres with sound results.
With Bad Times, he assumes writing and production duties for the thriller and steals a page from the Quentin Tarantino playbook, most notably from The Hateful Eight (2015).
The resulting feature is clever, perverse, and mysterious, with a fantastic, edge-of-your-seat experience, and a must-see for Tarantino fans.
Set in 1969, the film focuses on seven strangers of different backgrounds who make their way to a seedy and remote hotel on the California/Nevada border. Each harbors his or her share of dark secrets, which culminates during a deadly and macabre showdown one dark and stormy night.
In many ways, each character is seeking redemption or forgiveness for a past indiscretion or is otherwise protecting someone or something else. A large sum of money is also in play for the greedier characters to tussle over.
The seven players are as follows: Jeff Bridges plays catholic priest Donald “Dock” O’Kelly, Cynthia Erivo plays struggling soul singer Darlene Sweet, and Dakota Johnson portrays Emily Summerspring, a hippie trying to save her younger sister, Rose, who is devoted to and mesmerized by sadistic cult leader Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth).
Finally, Jon Hamm plays Dwight Broadbeck, a vacuum salesman who may have a secret identity, and hotel clerk Miles Miller (Lewis Pullman), who runs the hotel alone.
As events roll along the complexities of the characters grow and grow, which is my favorite aspect of the film. There are so many twists and turns involving the character’s backstories and motivations that surprises are in store.
Some characters have strange connections to each other, others meet for the first time resulting in their lives intersecting in interesting ways.
The dynamic between all the actors works tremendously well with the standouts being Bridges and Erivo, who share tremendous chemistry and are the most interesting characters, to mention get the most screen time.
During their lengthy scenes together, their characters forge a bond while never completely trusting each other. Erivo, as Darlene, gets to showcase her wonderful singing voice, the grand hotel room sequence as she belts out “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You”) is the highlight.
Old and maligned with memory loss Bridges is successful at granting more sympathy to his character than he deserves.
The film loses momentum towards the end with the introduction of the miscast Hemsworth, pretty but not the greatest acting talent. The actor overacts, playing Billy Lee as sinister and one-dimensional rather than infusing any complexities into the character, which doesn’t work.
A better casting choice (and Tarantino mainstays) would have been Leonardo DiCaprio or Brad Pitt, either actor assuredly bringing more depth to the role.
Comparisons to both The Hateful Eight and the comedy Clue (1985) must be made. Like the former, Goddard divides the film into chapters, mostly entitled as the hotel room numbers. With each subsequent room, the events going on in that room and its inhabitants are explored.
As in both films, he brings several mysterious characters with connections, together. Like in Clue, secret passageways which lead to various parts of a building are featured, offering layers of possibilities.
The hotel itself is styled and dressed brilliantly, nearly a character with glossy decal, shiny trimmings but with a solemn and melancholy gloominess. The establishment has seen its share of heartbreak, schemes, and even death. Clever is the division of the hotel in either the “California” section, sunny and cheerful, or the less posh “Nevada” section, purple and costing one dollar less.
The viewer is sucked into its web within the first sequence when a man is shown hiding money under the floorboards and then subsequently shot to death.
Despite just being labeled as a Tarantino rip-off, this does not bother me as I was enthralled with the characters, the details, and the vast nuances offered to me.
Unfortunately, the film was a box-office disappointment, suffering from a lack of awards buzz and a lofty running time. Bad Times at El Royale (2018) will entertain, intrigue, and keep one guessing up until the credits roll.
Be prepared for a bloody good time!