Bad Times At The El Royale Review

Bad Times At The El Royale
Director: Drew Goddard
Cast Headliners: Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, Dakota Johnson, others
Original Release Date: October 12, 2018

 Strangers in a stranger place with mysterious circumstances make for a typical but always interesting premise. Bad Times At The El Royale isn't breaking much new ground but it doesn't need to. It's cast of A list gems shines in between a story that's best to know as little as as possible.. It's groovy and dark and well long but with value
      The year is 1969 and it sure does feel it. The production design breathes the groovy pre-disco era through every bit of color in its furniture and clothing while including some great pop tunes of the day. At the foreboding California-Nevada border residing El Royale Hotel a group of customers checks in for a night that will change their lives forever.
   It can't be stressed enough how good it is to not know who's really who. At surface level there's kindly pastor Father Flynn(Jeff Bridges with his usual beard and western accent), hurried everyperson Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo), cornfried southern businessman Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm), and aloof roamer Emily Summerspring (Dakota Johnson) all checking in on the same day for their apparently seperate stories. Around they meet shy bellhop Miles Miller (Lewis Pullman), charismatic hippie Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth), and troubled youth Ross (Cailee Spaeny).  Soon enough things get crazy .
  Drew Goddard the director  is an incredibly interesting talent due to his genre bending The Cabin In The Woods. Just as that appeared to be horror but was more comedy satire this appears to be funky shoot them up but is much more mystery and nuance filled. There's some great camera work along the mentioned production design. The hotel has its own visual and spoken lore that's hints at far more than what's seen. There's also clever uses of title cards for acts and flashbacks and alternative perspectives. That's how this movie bends its format and it might not be for everyone but it makes it mostly stand apart from its competition.
  However the long runtime must be mentioned. At almost over two and a half hours it's not a light watch. There's heavy brutality but also heavier impact of twists .. Spaced far apart.  The highlight performances from stern yet goofy Bridges to determined Erivo and more than meets the eye Hamm and Hemsworth are good but the long runtime makes each use mixed .
   With some trimmed content it could have been more snappier (especially some flashbacks and setting changes that range from effective to questionable . Any cast not mentioned is just kind of there as well. However when it's good it's some dark mysterious funky fun if one has the long time. 8 out of 10