Bad Times at the El Royale is a highly suspenseful film where Alfred Hitchcock meets Quentin Tarantino.  Set in the 1950’s, Bad Times offers a very character driven story not bogged down by technology letting the plot and actors carry the work load.  The era the film is set in is a great backdrop for a simple plot with multiple angles.  With multiple storylines being told all converging to a good final act, what feels like a very slow paced movie is able to hold your interest and still be entertaining for the over 2 hour run time.  Like a long drive in an early morning fog, you have an idea of where the film is going yet can not see the end clearly keeping the Hitchcockian suspense high.  As the film peels it layers you are asking as many questions as they are giving you answers.  Drew Goddard, the writer and director, does a phenomenal job of making that work.  Bad Times really only uses 7 actors for its entirety, however they were casted for their ability to drive such a film.

There are some truly established stars in Bad Times at the El Royale.  Jeff Bridges (Father Daniel FLynn) brings a great performance as an aging man that gives his character great depth.  Jon Hamm (Laramie Seymour Sullivan) steals the show in the first act with an awesome performance that was set in Don Draper’s era, but was far from his character. Dakota Johnson (Emily Summerspring) gives a performance worthy of redemption from her Fifty Shades series, while Chris Hemsworth (Billy Lee) channels his inner Matthew McConaughey in a performance that ensures there was a negotiated abs screen time meeting at some point.  Cynthia Erivo (Darlene Sweet) wraps up the main ensemble and offers a great voice to her lounge singer character.  Lewis Pullman (Miles Miller) adds support playing the hotel manager and fit right in among seasoned performers.

The unique vision that Bad Times at the El Royale has is very refreshing in an age of unoriginal ideas.  You can feel Drew Goddard‘s love for film being projected onto the screen.  Put together with great casting and acting and you have a great art piece that every movie goer can enjoy.  Being a bit violent at times would make this a movie for driving age or above although there is very little.  This is a movie that most would procrastinate in seeing and I would advise against that.  Seeing this on the big screen adds a bit of nostalgia for a time when going to the movies was an event.  Grab yourself a popcorn and support good film.