馃幀 Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) is a neo-noir thriller directed by Drew Goddard, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, and Lewis Pullman. Set in the late 1960s, the film unfolds at the El Royale, a once-glamorous but now dilapidated hotel that straddles the California-Nevada border. The hotel becomes the meeting place for seven strangers, each harboring secrets, including a priest with a shady past (Bridges), a struggling singer (Erivo), a woman on the run (Johnson), a salesman with ulterior motives (Hamm), and a charismatic cult leader (Hemsworth).
As the night progresses, the hotel reveals its own dark secrets鈥攈idden corridors, surveillance cameras, and a history of sinister deeds. The narrative, told through non-linear storytelling and flashbacks, peels back layers of each character's backstory, leading to a tense and explosive climax.
The film is visually striking, blending retro aesthetics with meticulous production design to create an atmosphere that鈥檚 both nostalgic and eerie. Cynthia Erivo鈥檚 portrayal of Darlene Sweet is particularly standout, grounding the film with emotional depth. Jeff Bridges also shines as a weary priest seeking redemption.
Bad Times at the El Royale received praise for its stylish direction, strong performances, and clever narrative structure, though its slow pacing divided audiences. Despite this, it remains a memorable entry in the neo-noir genre, exploring themes of guilt, redemption, and the duality of human nature.
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