As night falls, the secrets of the guests—and the hotel itself—begin to unravel in a series of violent and unexpected twists. A Visual and Audio Masterpiece
There are movies you watch for escapism, and then there are movies that trap you in a room with a group of strangers and refuse to let you look away. Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) is firmly in the latter category. If you missed this gem in theaters, firing up the version at home is arguably the best way to experience this claustrophobic, tension-filled thriller.
Writer-director Drew Goddard, who gave us the brilliant The Cabin in the Woods , wears his influences on his sleeve. It's nearly impossible to watch Bad Times at the El Royale without thinking of Quentin Tarantino; it feels like a perfect hybrid of Pulp Fiction 's non-linear storytelling and The Hateful Eight 's claustrophobic chamber piece, sprinkled with the Coen Brothers' taste for sudden, shocking violence. The film is an obvious love letter to the cinema that came before it, and while it might not offer much that is new, it's an incredibly fun and meticulously crafted ride. At the same time, some critics felt the film was an intriguing but ultimately mixed bag, citing a slow pace that makes its 141-minute runtime feel long.
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Bad Times at the El Royale is a stylish, violent, and ultimately rewarding film that is perfect for a movie night focused on mystery and atmosphere.
Bad Times at the El Royale is not a "feel-good" movie. It is a moody, rainy-day film that asks how far people will go to find redemption—or to survive it. As night falls, the secrets of the guests—and
The sound design is equally pivotal. From the crackle of a vinyl record to the sudden, jarring bursts of violence, the audio mix is immersive. Cynthia Erivo’s soulful renditions of classic tracks become the heartbeat of the movie, providing a stark contrast to the violence that unfolds.
As the night unfolds, a rainstorm traps the guests inside. The narrative fractures, revealing that the hotel features a hidden corridor lined with one-way mirrors. This allows the management—and a mysterious, high-level organization—to spy on and record the guests.
If you are sorting through your media server or looking for a high-intensity thriller that combines historical atmosphere with explosive action, this 2018 gem delivers a premium cinematic experience. It provides a flawless blend of style, sound, and suspense that holds up brilliantly on any screen size. If you missed this gem in theaters, firing
Bad Times at the El Royale is a sprawling, ambitious tragedy about the end of an era. Using its 720p digital clarity (even on BluRay, the grain and shadow are meticulous), the film renders the faded velvet and cigarette burns of 1969 with fetishistic detail. But beneath the style is a serious meditation on what happens when faith collapses, when mirrors only show you what you want to see, and when the line between good and evil becomes just another property boundary to be crossed. The El Royale is gone, but its warning remains: the worst times happen not when we are alone, but when we realize we have been sharing a room with our own reflection, watching it betray us.
A talented but cynical soul singer fighting for her autonomy in a rigged industry.
Even at 720p, this movie looks incredible. Goddard’s use of the hotel’s split-state floor (Nevada on one side, California on the other) and the vibrant 1960s color palette shine through. The 5.1 audio mix on the BluRay is essential for the killer soundtrack (Cynthia Erivo’s live-sung "This Old Heart of Mine" is a showstopper).
: The narrative is non-linear, often revisiting the same scenes from different character perspectives to reveal hidden motives.
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