'Bad Times at the El Royale' Movie Review

Released: 12th October 2018 (Wide Release)

Length: 141 Minutes

Certificate: 15

Director: Drew Goddard

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, Lewis Pullman, Cailee Spaeny and Chris Hemsworth

Isolation and withheld information; these are the key components of a murder mystery, creating heaps of potential for deep characters and clever plot lines. The latest entry into this sub-genre, Bad Times at the El Royale, has plenty to offer for anyone looking for a slow-burning thriller.

Very much along the lines of The Hateful Eight and Murder on the Orient Express, Bad Times takes place at a drive-in motel, occupied by four principal characters; Priest Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), singer Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), hoover salesman Dwight Broadbeck (Jon Hamm) and the antsy Emily Summerspring (Dakota Johnson). Each one has their own reason for checking in and more importantly, something to hide. They’re checked in by the young Miles Miller (Lewis Pullman) who appears to be the only staff member on site. What follows is an enticing mystery which reveals information piece-by-piece and transfers between the different characters staying at the hotel. With a non-linear narrative in place, many of these transitions are marked by classical title cards which replay sequences from different angles. It’s a brilliant way to build dramatic tension and for the most part, Bad Times is a tightly focused narrative. Characters form uneasy alliances, double cross one-another and struggle to escape as the situation deteriorates. However, there are some details left out that keep it from being completely cohesive, most notably the opening sequence, which while very well shot, doesn’t receive any kind of connection or payoff by the film’s final act which serves a convergence point for all the characters and their secret identities in a very intense manner. Had it worked to fill in these gaps, it would have been an airtight screenplay from top to bottom.

The performances in Bad Times at the El Royale are all excellent, though in terms of relevance to the plot, things get a little inconsistent; Jon Hamm’s character is the first to reveal his true motives but his role in the plot is very brief. Thankfully though, the other characters are more than enough to make up for this. Each one has a highly detailed backstory and specific characteristics that set them apart from one another; Flynn’s age is slowly creeping up on him, Emily doesn’t take kindly to other people creeping on her business and Darlene is being pressed down by both her struggling career in soul music and the casual ignorance of others. As we learn more about these characters their identities, both real and secret come into play throughout the plot and this where the major highlights of the performances show; when things grow more desperate and the more devious twists come into play every member of the cast does a terrific job of selling the characters. They’re also helped by a deft script that succinctly delivers the characterisation and allowing the El Royale residents to play off each other effortlessly. The final piece of the puzzle, Chris Hemsworth, won’t be spoiled in this review but unlike the film’s contemporaries he has a reasonable amount of build-up to make him a worthwhile member of the narrative. Ultimately it’s a superb writing effort from director Drew Goddard.

The El Royale is incredibly stylised, wearing the swinging, classy tone of the 60s on its sleeve. Yet it is also used to hide the darker secrets held by both the location and the characters presiding over it. The camerawork is extremely precise; at one moment it’s slowly panning around the environments to clearly set the scene and at another it’s precisely placed to put you in the perspectives of different characters; this organic method of presentation means you’ll always have an accurate image of the scene while still being kept in the dark as to which twist the story will throw at you next. Often, it’s the little details that make all the difference, the sense of duality marked by the line dividing California from Nevada, the sublime period-piece soundtrack complemented by an outstanding vocal performance by Cynthia Erivo. This is matched by the pitch-perfect set and costume design that seamlessly captures the nature of the time while also creating an authentic, gloomy atmosphere, something only applied by the raging storm that hangs over the setting.

It isn’t quite a complete story and not every character fits in nicely, but Bad Times at the El Royale is another strong murder mystery that easily stands alongside previous efforts, delivering solid performances and a great amount of intrigue to keep you guessing. You’ll certainly enjoy your visit to this deadly drive-in.

Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)