It is amazing how much setting can contribute to a story, especially one that is seemingly grounded in a fairly lame reality. By expanding on the little things and building on its neo-noir themes, films like “Bad Times at the El Royale” make a great case for the thriller genre in the current market. The atmosphere is its best selling point, as the small-town motel makes a great impression with its sweeping, early 1900s aesthetic and delightful jazz tunes that help set a great stage for the rest of the movie, as well as being an outright fun place to watch.
The film follows a seemingly innocuous motel that becomes embroiled in a night of crime and intrigue by following the stories of five strangers, each with their own reasons to be there. The cast works well to ensure that a strong balance between the mystery of its characters and the power they have in each scene is on full display. Specifically, Cynthia Erivo of Broadway fame as Darlene Sweet and Jeff Bridges (“Kingsman: The Golden Circle”) as Father Flynn pull off an interesting duo, though Erivo’s reserved actions at the outset of the story do not do her justice. Her performance bleeds into the film’s score, using her amazing vocals to provide an enjoyable view into the time period’s jazz influences. Her singing is backed by a great list of music singles that call back to the same era.
Thrilling might be the best word to describe “Bad Times at the El Royale.” Each scene, while some can go on too long, hits a masterful pace between drama and action. Effective use of downtime and contemplation provides room scenes that leave audiences on the edge of their seats. Though the greater plot takes some time to get going, the moments in between do a great job of entertaining while hinting at the deeper plot. This is due to some very talented writing, smaller details of the characters that make them more endearing and the risks that they find themselves in, all of which help to make sure that audiences will always feel like their favorite character could be at risk.
The only mark one could hold against the story would be some plot holes or unexplained arcs. Some relatively nuanced characters meet disappointing ends, while other will stampede toward a conclusion. It does not fully spoil the film, but it will leave the viewer with a “Hey wait a minute…” moment when thinking back on it.
In the end, a few small plot holes in the road are not enough to stop what amounts to a great thriller. With an intense atmosphere and thrilling scenes, “Bad Times at the El Royale” puts on a good showing. However, it surpasses that by putting its best qualities up front and submerging the viewer in a charming world that grips them with a succession of outright fun scenes that tow the line between humorous and intense. By the time audiences leave that world behind, they will find themselves wanting more when the next cynical cop thriller comes around to bore them. “Bad Times at the El Royale” is, ironically enough, a really good time.
Image from 20th Century Fox via YouTube
