In 1969, a variety of people converge at the El Royale hotel which has seen better days. The hotel is on the border between California and Nevada which you can stay in a room in either state. Nothing and no one is as they seem as the night reveals everyone's secrets and pasts. Father Flynn (Jeff Bridges) is a looking for a hidden bag of money. A vacuum cleaner salesman (Jon Hamm) insists in staying in the honeymoon suite while a woman (Dakota Johnson) has dragged her sister away from a murderous cult leader named Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth). Then there is the black singer needing a place to stay for the night on her way to a gig in Reno.

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE is writer/ director Drew Goddard's passion project. He wanted a movie with great actors, a 1960s music soundtrack, very detailed production design, and a well shot movie. The end result is a twisty and energetic film noir. The songs and the El Royale set are characters within the movie. The movie goes back and forth in time from multiple characters and through flashbacks. This structure doesn't overstay its welcome like it did in THE HATEFUL EIGHT which features the same devices.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
MAKING BAD TIMES AT EL ROYALE (28:35)- behind-the-scenes look at the making of Drew Goddard's film noir passion project from the cast to production design (like the El Royale hotel was a set on a soundstage, the cinematography, the costumes, and how the music was the film's eighth character. This featurette has behind-the-scenes footage, cast and crew interviews, film clips, and Jeff Bridges on-set candid photos he took

Gallery of stills showing off the level of production design detail in the El Royale set

Theatrical teaser and theatrical trailer for the movie
Previews for WIDOWS, RED SPARROW, and SORRY TO BOTHER YOU

FINAL ANALYSIS: BAD TIMES AT EL ROYALE is an enjoyable and twisty film noir crime thriller with a stellar cast and excellent production design. Some say they will never see Chris Hemsworth the same again after seeing him as Billy Lee.

This movie review is (c)1-2-2019 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com and look for additional content at http://enterlinemedia.tumblr.com