Bad Times at the El Royale

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Ralph C Pacing was a bit irregular - lagged a third to halfway into it. Strong performances all around. Nostalgic (attention to detail is amazing) yet still felt fresh. Not for everyone - you know who you are. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/14/21 Full Review Jack F I enjoyed it. Took me a while to get around to it, but when I did, I appreciated the cool performances, especially Jeff Bridges. It's the kind of movie you could forget, but probably won't. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/19/25 Full Review Gavin F. I’m a sucker for a good story and this one hits the nail on the head Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/06/25 Full Review Troy R Very good story. Acting was really good as well, though some of the characters aren't so likable. Ending was good and nicely tied the story together. Characters acted realistic which is a sign of good writing/directing and something I always enjoy in a film. The detractors: Singing while good got a little repetitive after the third or forth time it happened which started to feel like another minute tacked on to the long run time. Additionally adding to the long run time is Chris Hemsworth, who felt like another Spiderhead performance. While I did like his part a decent bit, it certainly would have been cut 10 minutes shorter with a less popular actor. Also he plays a very weird character that's ultimately a little too full on himself, full of jokes, and basically comes off like Thor comedy and silliness. And while its funny at times, it would be nice to see a different role from him. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/16/25 Full Review John W Got one of my favorites. Setting, costumes, and atmosphere, whole cinematography is amazing. I also really liked the story with its many characters and their mysterious connections. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/03/25 Full Review Matthew D A very creative original mystery upheld by gripping acting from an insane ensemble cast! Director Drew Goddard’s neo-noir crime mystery Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) is really neat. I did not care for Cabin in the Woods, so I’m pleasantly surprised at how much Drew Goddard improved visually as a director. You can actually see things in the dark scenes with excellent moody lighting, the camerawork is so crisp, the sound is better, and his writing is deeper. What a great storyteller this time around. Goddard’s stylish direction is enthralling, vivid, and creative. I love all the dark shadows, vivid neon lights, and smooth camera moves. The way that Goddard allows his cast to really act up close and personal with the camera with long takes is inspired. All these strangers gathered at a moody hotel is the perfect setup for a night of mischief and surprises. I found myself thinking this just flew by even though it’s 141 minutes long. It never felt like it since screenwriter Drew Goddard’s story has all these interlocked characters that kept revealing new connections. This story is very tight and had me wondering where this was going and who each new person really was at this isolated hotel. Casting director Carmen Cuba cast a wonderful ensemble full of up and coming actors and actresses at the time that looks impressive as time goes on looking back. Jeff Bridges is riveting and fascinating as Father Daniel Flynn. Bridges really has developed into one of our most versatile and enthralling actors. He can be warm, consoling, suspicious, entertaining, funny, intriguing, and moving in unexpected ways. Bridges just nailed it for me as this amiable priest with his own dark secrets. Lewis Pullman’s hotel clerk Miles Miller is an incredible acting performance from young Lewis. He is wonderful, odd, mysterious, humorous, fierce, confident, insecure, penitent, and touching all in one complex role. I was very surprised at his past reveal. Jon Hamm’s strong opening is all very entertaining as the forcefully mannered traveling salesman Laramie Seymour Sullivan. He’s so great when he first introduces himself to everyone and then we follow him for a long time. All of his paranoid and cautious traits are fascinating to me. What a killer performance among a ferocious ensemble. Cynthia Erivo is sympathetic and engaging as aspiring singer Darlene Sweet. Her powerful vocals soar effortlessly. She is very sympathetic as she tries to survive this grim night of revelations and chance encounters at the El Royale hotel. Her sad past is quite moving too. Dakota Johnson as tough gun toting hippie Emily Summerspring. Johnson delivers some of her fiercest acting here in a really great performance. She feels ready for anything. Dakota is riveting, brave, gorgeous, and cool in Bad Times at the El Royale. She’s glowing throughout El Royale. Cailee Spaeney is unhinged as the cute cult member Rose Summerspring with her own tragic past. Chris Hemsworth is fearsome, menacing, and unnerving as cult leader Billy Lee. His clever and cruel manipulations feel like a representation for men abusing women and making excuses for their actions. Manny Jacinto gets a few striking moments as cult member Wade Espiritu. Nick Offerman’s bank robber Felix O’Kelly is a blast in his smaller role. Mark O’Brien is funny as the other bank robber Larsen Rogers. Xavier Dolan’s sleazy, cruel, vindictive, elitist, and grotesque music producer Buddy Sunday is monstrous. Shea Whigham gets a solemn and enlightening cameo as Dr. Woodbury Laurence. Charles Halford is nice as the considerate prisoner Sammy Wilds. Stephen Stanton is hilarious as the furious voice of the ever paranoid and controlling J. Edgar Hoover. Editor Lisa Lassek’s smart cutting keeps the story moving and gives us all the information we need as reveals keep coming. The different perspectives are very interesting, especially with such unique characters. Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey’s stunning neo-noir style shots are immaculately crafted. The neon and shadowy lighting by Stuart Haggerty looks awesome. Production designer Martin Whist’s whimsical hotel sets and past places look amusing with the colorful 60s aesthetics. The bloody violent stunts are all amazing and sharp. Composer Michael Giacchino’s film score is neat and understated. The 50s and 60s tunes in the soundtrack are great, especially when sung by Erivo. Sound designers Jack Cucci, John T. Cucci, Chris Duesterdiek, Dan O'Connell, Brad Sokol, Casey Genton, and Julian Slater capture her clean voice recordings in crystal clear crispness. It sounds like she’s all alone with ambient noises, so we’re basically in the room with her. The gunshots ring out with a loud and thick bang that is very satisfying to hear. In short, Bad Times at the El Royale is enthralling, intriguing, satisfying, funny, sinister, shocking, cool, and even poignant. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Bad Times at the El Royale

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