Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, Lewis Pullman, Cynthia Erivo, and Cailee Spaeny in Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, Lewis Pullman, Cynthia Erivo, and Cailee Spaeny in Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

Review by RCR entertainment reporter, Eric Szymanski, follow him on Twitter at @ecmanski

With its stellar cast, retro set design, and soundtrack, I’d sum up Bad Times at the El Royale in two words: Tarantino lite. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The opening sequence sets the tone for what’s ahead in this 2 hour and 20-minute caper. From there, very much in the style of Tarantino’s last film The Hateful Eight, the viewer enjoys a backstory of each character and how they all wound up at this once swanky hotel which catered to the elite. This is where I had the most fun with this film…. Figuring out who’s who and what their motivation is behind the choices they make. I was particularly interested in Jeff Bridges’ Father Flynn and his journey leading up to arriving at the El Royale. Let me also point out that I picked up on his character’s last name, Flynn, as being a cute little reference to Tron.

As the film progresses, it starts to reflect a Murder on the Orient Express tone. Who are these people? Why do some of them insist on staying in a particular room? What are they hiding? How good of a vacuum salesman is Jon Hamm’s character in 1969? As good as Don Draper was at advertising that same year?

I enjoyed the “bad times” being broken down in segments with the focus being on each particular character leading up to the third act where all is revealed. It’s pretty clear from the jump, that everyone is hiding something. Dakota Johnson turns in a performance that completely warrants forgiveness for any of her work in the 50 Shades trilogy. Chris Hemsworth shows up halfway through playing Billy Lee, a cross between 1969 Charles Manson and 1993 Brad Pitt. Let me say, after watching his dance moves in one particular sequence, you’ll never listen to Deep Purple’s Hush the same.

Director Drew Goddard’s film has a lot of style but it’s also backed up with substance. The soundtrack selection clearly was influenced by Scorsese‘s Goodfellas and Casino but works perfectly for the era it’s set in. The film really didn’t take advantage of its R rating though. Not a complaint, but I felt some sequence could have kicked it up a notch. However, for a being 2 hours 20 minutes slow burn mystery, the pacing was on point. I was never bored with the events unfolding on screen and was genuinely rooting for a positive outcome for a few of the key players. It kinda reminded me of a mid 90’s crime film with a late 60’s setting. The Pulp Fiction influences are crystal clear complete with title cards dividing chapters of the film and a “Mr. Wallace’s golden glowing briefcase” in the form of a film reel exposing a deceased famous person doing despicable acts. All of this worked for me.

Bad Times at the El Royale doesn’t reinvent the wheel but it does highly entertain with solid performances from its stellar cast accompanied with interesting twists and turns. So go, check in to the El Royale. I’ll leave it up to you if you’d like a California room or a Nevada room. Either way, you’ll have a good time.

Grade: B+

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE OCTOBER 12, 2018

About Bad Times at the El Royale

  • Director: Drew Goddard
  • Screenplay by: Drew Goddard
  • Producers: Jeremy Latcham, Drew Goddard

Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe’s El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption… before everything goes to hell. Starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, and Cynthia Erivo lead an all-star cast in BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE.

RUNTIME: 140 minutes

RATING: PG-13

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