If you find yourself needing a break from the played out and predictable “good people vs. bad people” mystery/thriller movies, stay for a night at the luxurious El Royale, right on the border of Nevada and California! Writer/Director of Cabin in the Woods (2012), Drew Goddard, delivers once again with a subverting and exciting story in the form of Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) — a uniquely told mystery film with a stellar cast.
Bad Times at the El Royale takes place in the late ’60s and follows a band of characters with complicated backstories as they all happen upon the same motel on the same night. The motel used to be grandiose and popular but since losing their gambling license, it’s become near abandoned and has only one remaining concierge, Miles Miller (played by Lewis Pullman). Right off the bat, Miles Miller warns Father Daniel Flynn (played by Jeff Bridges) that the El Royale is “not a place for a priest.” Later, it is revealed that each of the rooms in the motel has a one-way mirror, and Miles Miller is asked to watch, and even film, certain guests that come through the motel. As the audience learns more about each of the characters, it’s difficult to decide who to root for and who to root against (for example, Father Daniel Flynn is only posing as a priest and is actually a former criminal). The best example of this is Laramie Seymour Sullivan (played by Jon Hamm), who comes off as a racist and arrogant salesman who just won’t shut up but is later revealed to actually be Dwight Broadbeck, an officer/family man who is performing an investigation on the El Royale. Similarly, Emily Summerspring (played by Dakota Johnson) is introduced as abrasive and possibly a kidnapper but is later revealed to have a soft spot for her sister, who she is trying to save. The only character that is easy to root for and seems most normal is Darlene Sweet (played by Cynthia Erivo) who is a backup singer with a beautiful voice trying to make it on her own.
Many scenes are left as cliffhangers before cutting to another moment, and at multiple points throughout the film, we are shown the same scene a second time, but from the perspective of another character. Watching all of the character interactions unfold in this way creates an “edge of your seat” feeling for almost the entirety of the 2 hours and 21 minutes of movie. The overall suspenseful and unpredictable nature of the film is definitely present from start to finish. However, there are a handful of scenes that go on for a little too long and other scenes that are focused on or retold that don’t seem incredibly important. This hinders the pacing of the movie and takes up time that could have been utilized building up Billy Lee (played by Chris Hemsworth), an amusing yet intimidating cult leader. The film subverts expectations left and right, and predicting what is about to happen next is near-impossible (right until the last 20 minutes). Although I wanted the film’s characters and message to be a bit stronger conceptually, it’s definitely worth a watch. Don’t try too hard to predict any of the characters’ motivations or the motel’s mysteries; just be sure to sit back, relax, and enjoy your stay at the El Royale.
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