Bad Times at The El Royale: Underrated Masterpiece

This is an underrated gem of a film that I love to rewatch. I present to you “Bad Times at the El Royale.” It's got a fantastic cast, a plot full of twists and turns, and enough mystery for a second-rate Agatha Christie novel. 

First, I just want to talk about the film’s setting. The hotel, divided into two different states and just gives this vibe of old glamour, is a place I want to visit. The bright coloration of both sides and the vibrant blue and gold hues complement each other so well. While still being so vibrant, it retains its air of mystery, especially with that first scene of the murder, the duffel bags, and floorboards; it has all the elements of a 70s-style film that I just love. Not to mention those mirrors. I have checked to ensure my hotel room’s mirrors aren’t double-sided. 

Next, the plot: each character is so full of mystery that as the film uncovers each of their secrets one by one, I just felt like I was watching it forever. The characters are such an odd group- a Black woman, a priest, Dakota Johnson, and a businessman played by Jon Hamm. Immediately upon their arrival, they reveal their motives, some more sinister than others, establishing their characters. One’s an FBI agent, the priest is a fake searching for hidden money, Dakota is a kidnapper, and the Black woman’s just a singer. 

The screenplay writer, having just come off classics like The Martian and The Cabin in the Woods, is ingenious as he carefully unwraps the plot, finally delving into a violent confrontation between all the characters, including Chris Hemsworth as a maniacal cult leader (very unexpected casting I might say but Hemsworth does the 70s cult leader role to perfection). The only problem with this film is the ending felt a bit too squeezed; the pace picked up too fast, and it left me wanting more, feeling like the film was incomplete. It made the film feel better had it been stretched out more or turned into a series. Either way, this film is brilliantly written, and I genuinely believe I’m due to rewatch it.