The trailer for this film, nor any synopsis will do this film justice. One of the most thrilling and entertaining films this year, Bad Times at the El Royale is truly one you have to see to believe.
“Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm and Chris Hemsworth lead an all-star cast in this powerful thriller filled with gripping suspense and startling revelations. 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.”
The film opens in a dark hotel room as a man pulls the curtains, turns on the radio as loud as possible, and proceeds to disassemble the entire room, burying something underneath the floorboards and then putting everything back the way it was. After some time passes, a knock at the door alerts the man who cautiously opens the door and is shot dead. Ten years later, Father Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges) and Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo) arrive outside the El Royale, separately, looking around to an empty parking lot. Inside they meet Laramie Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm), another guest who is waiting to be checked in with no staff to be seen. After a round of introductions, Darlene bangs on the back door to get the attention of Miles Miller (Lewis Pullman), the only staff member of the hotel who stumbles from the back to check everyone in. While the check-in process continues, a car screeches to a halt in front of the hotel and in walks Emily Summerspring (Dakota Johnson), also looking for a room for the night. Each of them go their separate ways into their own rooms, thus beginning each person’s story that will interconnect each of them throughout one of the most wild and unexpected nights of their lives.
The story is non-linear from that point on, so it’s hard to discuss much else of the synopsis without giving too much away. Each story is played out by room, and the character staying there, each of them nothing what you’d expect them to be or their motives entirely known. This non-linear storyline, much like Pulp Fiction is the perfect way to tell the stories of these individual guests to heighten tension which all come to a head in the third act. Seeing one story from a different perspective also allows for multiple re-watch value, as there were things that I didn’t notice in the first go-around and then rewound to see that I just didn’t catch. The attention to detail in each narrative as they intersect is astonishing how well it’s done, and equally as impressive is how different each one is. After seeing the trailer and then watching the film, I couldn’t have imagined how different it was to what I thought it would be. Perfectly executed, these stories will enthrall you and captivate your attention, so you can’t look away or be afraid to miss some vital detail.
Jeff Bridges gives a phenomenal performance here, really one of his best in a long time. His battle with his own mind and his condition he’s facing is heartbreaking, as is his tenderness he shows toward one of the other guests. He’s an old man at the end of his life, filled with remorse and regret, and that conflict is something he portrays extremely well. Cynthia Erivo doesn’t have an extensive film history as the others do, but if this film is any indication, this is just the beginning of a great career. She has a beautiful voice and a powerful presence to match her scenes with Jeff Bridges were some of my favorites of the film. Jon Hamm as always is witty, charming and full of zeal when it comes to his role in the film. The opening scene of the film absolutely belongs to him, and he’s got some great moments throughout that reinforces the reason why everyone loves Jon Hamm. Dakota Johnson could have easily been typecast in her role in the Fifty Shades films, as they don’t really have the reputation of exploring the boundaries of acting in general. In this film, she really shows her true capabilities and was one of the most refreshing and yet terrifying narratives in the film. Lewis Pullman, another young actor without an extensive film history was perhaps one of my favorites of the entire film. He evolves into something truly awe-inspiring and his character’s guilt drives him, and he’s able to portray that better than most would in the role. Chris Hemsworth shows another side of himself as one of the antagonists, so visceral and horrifying, a performance that will stick with you for days after watching.
The setting of the story is what ties everything together. A time of turmoil toward the end of the Vietnam War when the country was at its most divisive, the Civil Rights movement, corruption at the highest levels of government. These narratives fit neatly in with the time period, providing some beautiful scenery and décor of the time. The hotel, split down the middle with California on one side and Nevada on the other is also just like a character in the story. Once a luxurious and respected establishment which has gone into disrepair and ill repute with the real story behind the scenes.
Bad Times at the El Royale has so many layers to it, it’s a wild ride from start to finish. With top notch performances from everyone involved, it was easily one of my favorites of the year, providing thrilling entertainment and ample re-watch value.
Video
Bad Times at the El Royale is presented in 2160p 4k Ultra HD Widescreen 2.39:1. This transfer looks exceptional on 4k, taking full advantage of the HDR which is clearly prevalant in the sequences throughout. There are several sequences of bright and vivid color, with fantastic balance between those brilliant brights and deep darks. The tone of the film, as well as the time period, is captured beautifully with the bright contrast of color in the setting, locations and design of everything. There are so many beautiful sequences shot in the film that make you really pay attention to the wonderful cinematography and eye of Drew Goddard that makes this film truly spectacular.
Audio
The audio is presented in Dolby Atmos. This track is stunning as well, providing a nice breadth of content: loud gunshots, impressive atmospheric effects, clear dialogue, and most improtantly a fantastic score that sets the tone for many of the scenes. These songs are perfectly chosen for the time period and makes for a real immersion into the story.
Special Features
The extras are located on the Blu-Ray disc and unfortunately aren’t what I had hoped to see with such a caliber of a film. Although the ‘Making Of’ portion goes in depth on some of the aspects I really enjoyed in the film, I was hoping for more.
- Making Bad Times at the El Royale
- Gallery
- Teaser Trailer
- Theatrical Trailer
Bad Times at the El Royale is hard to put into words thanks to the complex story, but it’s something that you absolutely have to see for yourself. It truly is a ride of a lifetime as these converging narratives come to a head in a tension-filled ending sequence that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
