Bad Times at the El Royale

Bad Times at the El Royale is a 2018 thriller film directed and written by Drew Goddard, and boasting of an ensemble cast including Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, Cailee Spaeny, Lewis Pullman, and Chris Hemsworth.

This film eschews the typical, trite plot lines that conform to the traditional norms of a singular, interwoven storyline in favor of a stylish mixture of dark humor, engaging character development, and seat-tingling suspense. It is an audacious fusion of the crime and mystery genre, served with a liberal dash of film-noir attribute and mid-century charm.

The narrative unfolds at the eponymous El Royale, a rundown hotel that straddles the border between Nevada and California. Once a thriving establishment visited by the rich and famous in its heyday, it has now descended into a state of near-dereliction. This hotel acts as a purgatorial ground for mystery and intrigue, incubating an explosive cocktail of conflicting interests lying beneath its seemingly disheveled facade.

Each character who checks into the El Royale carries a diverse but equally morally complex personality and history, each contributing to the dynamic labyrinth of tensions present throughout the film. Veteran actor Jeff Bridges plays Father Flynn; although he appears first as an old cleric, it quickly becomes clear that his true intentions are far from holy. Cynthia Erivo plays Darlene Sweet, a hopeful singer with a strong sense of character, whose life becomes ensnared in the disturbing events that transpire during the course of her stay. Dakota Johnson’s character, Emily Summerspring, is a mysterious woman with a rebellious yet fiercely protective spirit. Jon Hamm inhabits the character of Dwight, a self-proclaimed vacuum cleaner salesman with a Southern charm. Along with several other characters whose stories contribute in equal measures to the plot's development, they form a cohort of lost souls soon to encounter a thrilling turn of events that will test their survival instincts.

The central event that brings each person into the scene is a severe rainstorm forcing them to seek refuge at the El Royale. As each character’s history is gradually revealed, their mysterious pasts come to seep into their current circumstances. Unresolved issues come to the surface. The hotel, with its dusty hallways, large panoramic mirrors, vintage slot machines, and mid-century decor, teeters precariously as a thin veil between normalcy and chaos. Superimposing itself as a character in itself, it abides and unfolds the eerie mysteries of each person present within it like a profound, sentient entity.

Half-religious parable, half-noir-ish criminal enterprise, Goddard’s Bad Times at the El Royale makes a valiant attempt to break away from the mould that encapsulates its genre. It paints each of its characters as neither wholly virtuous nor entirely malevolent, providing them with enough depth and ambiguity for the audience to appreciate their inherent complexities. The narrative hops between different perspectives, exploring each subplot while deftly maintaining the overall narrative arc.

The final product is a spectacle that is both visually stunning and deeply engaging. The cinematography remains immaculate throughout the film, striking a fine balance between long, atmospheric takes and quick, jarring cuts that keep the audience guessing.

El Royale's aural landscape is accentuated by a sublime sound score that shuffles between gospel music, soulful ballads, and thrilling crescendos. Every track in the film serves a purpose, either building tension, providing emotional depth to a character, or contributing to the overall vintage milieu of the narrative.

Each role fully immerses itself in its respective character, delivering captivating performances that add a tangible essence to the film. The performances of Jeff Bridges and Cynthia Erivo, in particular, stand out and command attention.

In the end, Bad Times at the El Royale is a compelling exploration of the dark corners of human morality and survival. It is a thrilling ride from start to finish with its unique blend of suspense and dark comedy, woven together intricately. It celebrates its genre, donning the garb of a noir thriller but goes beyond the expected staples of its category. This suspenseful journey will leave viewers in contemplation long after the credits roll, solidifying it as a cinematic experience that is as thrilling as it is thought-provoking. It is indeed one of the intriguing and gripping thriller movies of 2018.