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Bad Times at the El Royale
Bad Times at the El Royale
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Bad Times at the El Royale

Bad Times at the El Royale

2018
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 21m
Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe's El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption - before everything goes to hell.

Directed by:

Drew Goddard

Screenwriter:

Drew Goddard

Starring:

Shea Whigham, Jeff Bridges, Katharine Isabelle, Nick Offerman, Mark O'Brien, Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, Xavier Dolan, Dakota Johnson, Lewis Pullman, Cynthia Erivo, Cailee Spaeny

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Crime, Mystery

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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Bad Times at the El Royale

2018
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 21m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 53.37% from 1442 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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paxtonPaxton
Rated 17 Oct 2018
86
84th
Jon Hamm looks like he's never had a bad time in his life. He looks like George Clooney never got married. He makes Jeff Bridges look slow and Chris Hemsworth look unseasoned. He looks like I want to feel. He looks like I think I want to feel. He's making me question my own feelings and thoughts. He looked okay.
Rated 17 Oct 2018
leonardisLeonardis
Rated 17 Oct 2018
86
50th
I found this to be a really solid film! It's long, and you really do feel the length, but I wasn't ever bored. I also could see the multiple flashbacks annoying some people, but I felt some of them were needed. I can't say any scene in the movie wasn't nessicary either. Good performances from most of the cast, the stand outs being Bridges, Erivo, and Pullman. Hemsworth was a real scene stealer too. I genuinely cared for some of the characters. A long but fun movie from Drew Goddard.
Rated 17 Oct 2018
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 23 Jan 2019
75
78th
I enjoyed this film noir. It was nice to see Jeff Bridges in something good for a change. Dakota Johnson was great. Good performances all around. The gritty and dark plot was full of surprises. There was plenty of intrigue and action. The rundown old hotel was a great setting. Smart writing and excellent acting. The ending nearly went off the rails. Exciting and unique. Well worth watching.
Rated 23 Jan 2019
therealj_roTheRealJ-Ro
Rated 16 Oct 2018
90
93rd
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Give me all of this, all the time. This sets a tone, it intertwines a variety of divergent stories and does so seamlessly, and successfully makes the hotel itself its own character, shrouded in the unsolved mystery of its ownership. This drips with style with the meat on the bones to back it up, and in a crowd of strong performances, Chris Hemsworth's California cult leader stands out. I am very on board for everything Drew Goddard does from here on out. Home run.
Rated 16 Oct 2018
obdurateObdurate
Rated 15 Oct 2018
90
91st
It didn't take very long before Goddard made it clear that I wouldn't know what to expect and that is hugely important. The main strength here is the writing but it's so well made in every regard that it actually earned its runtime. Lots of twists and turns, you could go from thinking one thing about a character to another pretty quickly. Stylish film with great acting (Bridges is the star here though).
Rated 15 Oct 2018
velvet_croweVelvet Crowe
Rated 14 Oct 2018
52
52nd
Meh. The first portion of the movie is enjoyable enough even if they're trying too hard to be like Tarantino. But eventually, the film starts taking a nosedive with Chris Hemsworth's pretentious, boring cultlike persona taking center stage on the screen. The resolution to the plot was really lame and stupid, and there wasn't much in the way of emotional resonance for me to really care about the character deaths. Granted the latter is Tarantino-esque, but at least he had done it with more flair.
Rated 14 Oct 2018
kgbelliveaukgbelliveau
Rated 13 Oct 2018
90
82nd
Visually and narratively pleasing it is elevated by fine performances by each one of the significant players including Bridges, Johnson and Hemsworth. Secrets, lies and tension were the name of the game and Bad Times at the El Royale kept it coming in droves and made you guess. It was fun, dark and a wild web of woven narratives that did not drag out too long and were not at all complicated to follow given the plethora of flashbacks to show why all this was taking place.
Rated 13 Oct 2018
djrossdjross
Rated 13 Feb 2019
55
54th
A 2018 film about bad times coming in a world suffused with surveillance exercised by unseen and unidentified powers, populated by characters who thus all possess secret identities, each playing their parts in a game of lies. The film seems to ask: in such a world of alternative facts, can people find ways of meeting and listening to each other that take them beyond this post-truth non-world? The section focused on Hemsworth suffers precisely because his character is excluded from this question.
Rated 13 Feb 2019
bownBown
Rated 27 Nov 2018
79
49th
The whole is most definitely less than the sum of its parts, but man, what entertaining parts! Definitely could trim a lot of fat from almost every scene but I wasn’t really bored at any point until it became the Hemsworth show. Worth watching just for great actors delivering fun dialogue.
Rated 27 Nov 2018
cagedwisdomcagedwisdom
Rated 20 Oct 2018
75
65th
Stylish and well made, with a great setting. Starts off with so much potential. The ensemble is the key to a film like this - there are four spectacular characters you really want to know more about. Unfortunately Emily, Rose and Billy Lee (as well as their cult backstory) are thoroughly uninteresting/unappealing and they take over the entire plot in the second half, leaving most of the mysteries you actually wanted to know more about unresolved. Left me unsatisfied and a bit annoyed.
Rated 20 Oct 2018
stewballStewball
Rated 13 Oct 2018
80
80th
Covert sequel to "The Hateful Eight". Could even have been styled the "Sinful Seven", minus the snow.
Rated 13 Oct 2018
frederikaFrederikA
Rated 31 May 2020
65
58th
I was really rooting for this to be good, but ultimately the characters (well-cast as they might be) were too one noted, the mystery too underwhelming and pacing too off for it to work for me. Disappointing given the talent involved, but still with an honesty to it, you rarely get in these Tarantino-eque, post-modern crime tales.
Rated 31 May 2020
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 10 Feb 2020
70
53rd
Going to mess the narrative up, gonna drown them in 60s music, have to toss in crazy characters, baby add a few title cards and we got a Tarantinoesque stew going. Little bland though but the placemats nice.
Rated 10 Feb 2020
philamentalphilamental
Rated 23 Jan 2019
73
65th
Mostly this was quite enjoyable. Even though the arrival of all these characters at the same time is a little convoluted, once you get past that the El Royale setting is superb for the narrative and provides some fantastic visuals. I would have preferred if they avoided the flashbacks and revealed the bits of backstories differently, but the mystery and characters motivations are intriguing to work out up until … the Cult Leader angle comes front and centre and nothing works as well after that
Rated 23 Jan 2019
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 22 Jan 2019
68
53rd
This mostly worked for me, even if the ending didn't exactly deliver the caliber of payoff that all the setup demands.
Rated 22 Jan 2019
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 07 Jan 2019
75
59th
A film that impressively walks the thin line between gorgeous and masterbatory. Some restraint would have done Goddard well, but when a scene clicks, boy does it work. The cast is brimming with talent but the film's narrative seems to make things up as it goes along. Borrowing heavily from Hateful Eight is fine, just make sure you pull it off.
Rated 07 Jan 2019
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 25 Oct 2018
3
38th
Overwritten and underdeveloped; the sort of film that, at 15, would've seemed the coolest thing ever, seems at 30 to be merely an amusing way to spend a couple of hours. Granted, some small part of me is nostalgic for when a sense of style, a quippy cast of characters, and a few violent plot twists were enough to have me hooked, so I didn't mind this minor Tarantino pastiche, even if it ultimately peters out after one or two half-hearted developments too many. The cast carries it off anyhow.
Rated 25 Oct 2018
nothingsgoodNothingsGood
Rated 18 Oct 2018
50
46th
Everything was really good until the priest got hit in the head with a bottle of wine. Then I felt like him until the end of the movie.
Rated 18 Oct 2018
hofschneiderHofschneider
Rated 12 Oct 2018
93
95th
When the fake priest and singer work together and are using the rhythm of her song to distract from his hammering - this movie found it's way into my brain and heart. The original sin of America and what came out of it. In a time and place where the US just collected essential sin after sin. Vietnam, Nixon, Mason. BTATER asks the big question of American identity. Everyone is fake in this movie. Yet, it is preciously precise in distinguishing between the healing or destroying qualities.
Rated 12 Oct 2018
sagesledgeSageSledge
Rated 11 Oct 2018
100
91st
"Bad Times at the El Royale" is so engrossing, so richly characterised, and so very charming. There's so much more I could say, but for once I'd rather let Goddard and his infallible ensemble do the talking for me. My film of the year, by miles. Checking in?
Rated 11 Oct 2018
oldgoatoldgoat
Rated 08 Apr 2019
71
54th
Pretty meandering with not enough payoff for a structure like this. Dakota Johnson is an outright bad actress and did her best to ruin the movie. Everyone else did a fine job with a shoestring script until the real interesting part showed up for not long enough. Solid but not that good.
Rated 08 Apr 2019
braddad68braddad68
Rated 22 Jan 2019
98
94th
This one ends up in my Top Five for 2018! Great crime drama with top level performances and writing.
Rated 22 Jan 2019
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 13 Jan 2019
79
78th
The script is good for this film, there are some things that happen that are unpredictable. The ensemble cast do a good job with the material. Overall I would recommend this film.
Rated 13 Jan 2019
magdabagmagdabag
Rated 09 Jan 2019
90
79th
I actually REALLY enjoyed this movie. I never planned on watching this. but randomly thought I'd try it. Whatever expectations you have about this movie, forget em. Anytime I thought I knew what was going to happen, the movie surprised me. I didn't really have any problems with the acting, though some of the roles stood out. Bridges was wonderful, per usual, along with Cynthia Erivo and Lewis Pullman. Really enjoyed this film, even with the length. Would definitely recommend.
Rated 09 Jan 2019
chemical404chemical404
Rated 04 Jan 2019
68
78th
It has a solid script and style, which is rare in these Midnight Madness type of films. Just take Mandy as an example - all style, no substance. And yes, script seems to be taken from Tarantino's wastebasket, but so what. Fun, fresh and stylish film on it's own right.
Rated 04 Jan 2019
kito1kito1
Rated 03 Jan 2019
60
47th
Sure-handed sound and visual design, which is very much appreciated. Maybe a bit lengthy, and a bit too messy, but enjoyable regardless.
Rated 03 Jan 2019
stuie299stuie299
Rated 03 Jan 2019
80
60th
A little slow in parts, but otherwise a very solid character study and mystery. A great ensemble cast and performances. The ending left me a little wanting, but the film has enough style to hold its own. Definitely inspired by Tarantino, but different enough that I'll be eagerly awaiting Goddard's next movie.
Rated 03 Jan 2019
bofbof
Rated 28 Dec 2018
66
52nd
It's basically Hateful Eight set in 1970, with a very slight hint of a Cabin In The Woods meta-twist. As such it's entertaining but I'd expected Goddard to bring more of an idea to it. But Bridges is good as always and Cailee Spaeny gives good creep.
Rated 28 Dec 2018
gabba2k7gabba2k7
Rated 23 Dec 2018
84
75th
generally good. some bonus points for the cast.
Rated 23 Dec 2018
scorpusScorpus
Rated 09 Nov 2018
79
68th
Bad Times at the El Royale is a surprisingly decent film, despite its stretched out run time, with enough twists to keep you guessing
Rated 09 Nov 2018
neonmanNeonman
Rated 19 Oct 2018
83
74th
From the impressive opening segment, this film explores voyeurism in the enticing way that cinema does, and this setting and this crew of characters is perfect for that. Unlike the tonally confused Cabin in the Woods, this lovingly original work doesn't suffocate at all under its genre hat-tippings. The eventual and enjoyable unraveling of this story and its '60s themes seen in hindsight unfortunately doesn't cap itself off appropriately, though the last sequence is still a fun watch.
Rated 19 Oct 2018
adornmentadornment
Rated 17 Oct 2018
76
67th
Feels like low-grade Tarantino, but somehow just as satisfying. Delivers high on the aesthetics and atmosphere, but not as much on the narrative. Goddard handles his ensemble wonderfully and the cast is absolutely up to par.
Rated 17 Oct 2018
ofterdingenOfterdingen
Rated 16 Oct 2018
41
21st
Tedious Times at the El Royale.
Rated 16 Oct 2018
filliganFilligan
Rated 13 Oct 2018
93
87th
Yes, this will remind you of a Tarantino film. No, that should not be levied as a criticism. Tarantino, after all, has been honing his style for decades. This is mighty impressive for Goddard. He manages to enrapture through extended dialogue scenes alone, and what the film misses the mark on, it makes up for in ingenuity. One of my favorites of the year.
Rated 13 Oct 2018
yoshinarutoYoshinaruto
Rated 25 May 2020
65
55th
I’m not sure how accurate the Tarantino comparisons are, as the dialogue isn’t the same, and it’s not nearly as violent. Pacing and length are a bit off, and finale isn’t quite as satisfying as expected. Loved the way everything tied in during the early middle portion. Acting is all around great, with Hemsworth being fun to watch play a different role, and Pullman being a surprising standout. Bridges and Erivo are fun to watch together as well. Surprised to see Dolan. Overall a good time
Rated 25 May 2020
corbadCorbad
Rated 06 Jan 2020
80
79th
Thrilling, impeccably performed, and surprising at every turn, but feels overlong due to occasionally clunky pacing. Strong performances are the highlight, but the excitement of never knowing what will happen next is a strong second place.
Rated 06 Jan 2020
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 29 Jun 2019
70
79th
There isn't a ton of substance to the storytelling but its still a lot of fun watching these actors take on their characters. Its grim and Tarantinoish but Goddard continues to show he can spin an interesting yarn with some visual style.
Rated 29 Jun 2019
indyatmnINDYATMN
Rated 09 Jun 2019
95
96th
Highly underrated. It's easy to imagine some people being put off by how long the filmmaker lets some scenes run, especially some of Erivo singing, but her performance, like the film, is so compelling I was mostly riveted throughout. Every actor is perfect (although Hemsworth's public persona is so fun-loving it's tough to buy him as evil), & the film is masterful at creating characters & situations you want to know more about & delivering unpredictable answers that live up to expectations.
Rated 09 Jun 2019
orcunyondemorcunyondem
Rated 15 May 2019
99
98th
That was perfect. Watching characther introducing at the conclusion made me applause it. Original characthers and script, none stop action and convincing twist... All 140 minutes were so cool that I can't find words to tell my opinions. Now that's a movie I've been waiting to watch for a long long time. It now has a place in my top movies.
Rated 15 May 2019
ikkegoemikkeikkegoemikke
Rated 11 Feb 2019
78
93rd
Do you like Tarantino? You'll definitely like this flick. More reviews here: http://movie-freak.be [Full review]
Rated 11 Feb 2019
mattorama12mattorama12
Rated 20 Jan 2019
77
82nd
A bit of a lackluster ending, and the film reel MacGuffin was a little tiresome, but overall really enjoyable. The characters were a lot of fun and the production design was great.
Rated 20 Jan 2019
psimpsim
Rated 10 Jan 2019
83
86th
Just as he did with Cabin in the Woods and horror, director Drew Goddard's take on a Tarantino-style crime film both reinvigorates the genre while also cleverly commenting on why and how we like to watch these movies.
Rated 10 Jan 2019
macswellMacSwell
Rated 06 Jan 2019
40
13th
There are so many hackneyed ideas and vain attempts at coolness that reek of a kind of juvenile desperation from Goddard, but the film is still watchable popcorn nonsense for most of the runtime in spite of this. It's Hemsworth showing up for the final act, heinously miscast as a psychotic cult leader, that really causes everything to collapse. More of Jon Hamm would certainly not have gone amiss.
Rated 06 Jan 2019
amazedemonamazedemon
Rated 04 Jan 2019
67
76th
Bad Times at the El Royale relishes in the excessiveness of its characters, to a thoroughly entertaining result. The check-in scene was great in setting up most of the characters while establishing the tone somewhere between comedic and mysterious, laced with abandonment and peril. A mix of strings and diegetic numbers from Erivo build the tension nicely. Bridges steals the show. Hamm is great. Erivo is good. And Johnson is tolerable. Flawed but enjoyable.
Rated 04 Jan 2019
prowlerprowler
Rated 03 Jan 2019
53
51st
and the role of today's young laying down the Truth to the bad old generation in the face of violent chaos goes to...
Rated 03 Jan 2019
darrenDarren
Rated 01 Jan 2019
71
57th
That scene set to The Supremes was one of my faves of the year even tho I'm sure it's been done a zillion times. Surprisingly not annoying.
Rated 01 Jan 2019
constantineconstantine
Rated 22 Dec 2018
78
66th
Ending was a disappointment but I loved all the Jackie Brown vibes. It could be one of the best movies of the year with a decent ending but still in my top list.
Rated 22 Dec 2018
addsAdds
Rated 21 Dec 2018
65
52nd
Interesting watch, but didn't live up to the hype it got. Things will rev up and there will be some really intense scenes that hold your interest, then you'll find yourself practically falling asleep because it's limping along. The acting was superb from everyone. Hemsworth stole some scenes and looked great while doing it.
Rated 21 Dec 2018
sproostsproost
Rated 18 Dec 2018
50
27th
Fun and promising first hour, awful second and resolution.
Rated 18 Dec 2018
xenophuleXenophule
Rated 11 Nov 2018
9
72nd
[Theater is worth it] This feels like someone saw Four Rooms and decided they could do it better. And did. Every moment of this movie is packed with fun, the pacing between characters' stories is great, and overall this movie is just plain fun.
Rated 11 Nov 2018
walkearthwalkearth
Rated 27 Oct 2018
75
88th
Loved it. Incredible cast with memorable ala The Hateful Eight characters with a more sinister and definitely unpredictable twist(s), heavily stylized, craftily written and executed in a masterful way. Superbly shot with great imagery, great sound work and what is one of the best film sequences this year - John Hamm's character's discovery of the voyeuristic windows. WOW Hemsworth's character. And 'Hush." A glorious - albeit probably polarising - piece of cinema. /c Cineworld West India Quay
Rated 27 Oct 2018
getmoneygetmoney
Rated 20 Oct 2018
92
93rd
I found this a lot more captivating than others seem to think I would have (this has a lot more on its mind than being a sub-Tarantino fest) and am really sad it isn't going to be a Box Office hit.
Rated 20 Oct 2018
antidood1antidood1
Rated 19 Oct 2018
75
71st
Tarantino is losing his touch, and Drew Goddard is nominating himself as his successor. This is not a perfect movie, but it comes close to being great through its wonderful characters, abundant sense of style and its sheer adventure and joy. Darlene Sweet is an incredible character, largely because of Cynthia Erivo's powerhouse performance. This movie has its fair share of problems, but I'm looking forward to Goddard sharpening his knives for his next feature.
Rated 19 Oct 2018
semioticussemioticus
Rated 15 Oct 2018
82
78th
They don't make movies like this any more! Well, that's obviously an exaggeration, but it did remind me of the 90s-early 00s with the smart enough, nonlinear, artful action flicks. It could have been 15-20 minutes shorter, and I'd redo some of the casting, but other than that, it definitely does the job. This could have been a very, very good movie though.
Rated 15 Oct 2018
gursuGursu
Rated 15 Oct 2018
7
72nd
Watch this if you missed Tarantino. The story isn't new but it's good cinema. The acting and Cynthia Erivo's singing is great, too.
Rated 15 Oct 2018
twincinematwincinema
Rated 14 Oct 2018
70
52nd
Basically, Tarantino-lite (even if it is a slightly better "Hateful Eight"). It's messy and sprawling, clocking in at 141 minutes, and I went back-and-forth between disliking and liking this film (sometimes within minutes of one another). This film does have a lot to say about duality. This film's title is ripe for a Gene Shalit-esque tagline.
Rated 14 Oct 2018
kasperlKasperL
Rated 13 Oct 2018
60
50th
As a Tarantino disciple, Goddard shows that he is very capable of emulating the familiar style and type of narrative structure. Sadly, all of it leads absolutely nowhere, but I'll definitely be checking out whatever Cynthia Erivo and Lewis Pullman star in next.
Rated 13 Oct 2018
sellissellis
Rated 13 Oct 2018
71
37th
Elegant and precise, it’s one of the best shot films of the year. The design of it is beautiful - you can see it in the details. Some fun moments and scenes, but the film lives/dies by Goddard’s narrative choices. Keeping us at a distance from character motive until it’s too late to care for anyone’s fate. All of the serious moments but one of Bridges are forced and unaffecting. So much of the score is used as a bandaid. Cool soundtrack. Thor should be this unhinged more often.
Rated 13 Oct 2018
fenixdownfenixdown
Rated 13 Oct 2018
87
96th
So much fun. A strong statement from Goddard!
Rated 13 Oct 2018
the_pirateThe Pirate
Rated 12 Oct 2018
80
60th
Plot's a bit convoluted, but delivered in an overall engaging way. The best thing the film has going for it is its style and tone; it's a visually great movie with a dark, but sometimes sweet atmosphere. The first act was a little stale and the climax felt a bit too good to be true, but I really enjoyed the last two acts and especially Hemsworth's performance.
Rated 12 Oct 2018
difontaineDifontaine
Rated 01 Dec 2022
78
72nd
It's certainly indebted to Tarantino, but without the lengthy drag and bloat of his recent films. A stellar cast too.
Rated 01 Dec 2022
speedmarqueSpeedMarque
Rated 11 May 2020
50
45th
Tarantinoesque, but nothing really happens. A long journey leading nowhere
Rated 11 May 2020
kenmeistersKenMeisters
Rated 12 Dec 2019
80
84th
Fun Times at the El Royal for the viewer. Clever writing, great ensemble and always another twist up its sleeve to keep you wanting more.
Rated 12 Dec 2019
luordluord
Rated 04 Nov 2019
71
72nd
A game cast–in particular a mesmerizing Lewis Pullman–and great direction featuring cool visuals energize an otherwise scattershot story.
Rated 04 Nov 2019
honeybHoneyB
Rated 01 Oct 2019
80
75th
A feel good thriller.
Rated 01 Oct 2019
jerkyJerky
Rated 26 Aug 2019
65
83rd
A whole shit ton of Tarantino-esque fuckery in this film. There's "homage" and then there's overkill. Still, not a bad waste of 2+ hours.
Rated 26 Aug 2019
dyannethorneDyanneThorne
Rated 16 Jul 2019
60
46th
I loved the start with all the different plot threads and points of view being laid out and the first death is a delightful gut punch. But then Billy shows up and everything is brought to a halt and there it remains parked for basically way too long. Billy is supposed to be scary and unpredictable but I'm 100% with Darlene here: He's just a dude who talks too much. The ending was a mixed bag, quality-vise. Not going to watch it again on my own initiative, but wouldn't veto it on a movie night.
Rated 16 Jul 2019
hadleyreisHadleyreis
Rated 12 May 2019
69
52nd
The music kept this afloat and not too tiresome
Rated 12 May 2019
pianosamaPianoSama
Rated 26 Mar 2019
65
45th
Super strong performances, particularly from Jon Hamm, Jeff Bridges, & Chris Hemsworth. Cynthia Erivo & Dakota Johnson also shine, as does Cailee Spaeny. It has moments of brilliance, with some really clever writing/cinematography/etc, but it goes back to the well on some things one too many times & it's really a bit longer than it has to be. All in all, a solid film that's worth watching at least once.
Rated 26 Mar 2019
cowmanCowman
Rated 02 Mar 2019
70
56th
An attempt to go full Tarantino. Packs a nice punch but suffers from boring dialogue and overload of singing scenes. Excellent dark cinematography, brutal story, nice finale, but sooo long. I miss 90 minute movies.
Rated 02 Mar 2019
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 27 Feb 2019
5
2nd
Bad times indeed, but not nearly as bad as the time I had watching this.
Rated 27 Feb 2019
barisiusbarisius
Rated 22 Jan 2019
50
9th
Started promising, but sank into the cliches, e.g. Vietnam, molesting father, cult leader, discrimination, etc. I think humanity has had enough with these remorse stories from the US.
Rated 22 Jan 2019
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 09 Jan 2019
52
12th
Starts out exceptionally well, with a Tarantino-esque collection of seedy characters (flavoured with an almost Lynchian design and locale vibe) and a terrifically smarmy performance from Hamm, but goes downhill in the second half once the 'serial killer's' identity is revealed; the film seems to be wanting to make a point about the society that produced the Manson cult (?) but can't foster any new or interesting insights. Hard to go entirely wrong with this cast who do maintain interest.
Rated 09 Jan 2019
duderDuder
Rated 30 Dec 2018
60
40th
Starts off really well, but it's too long for its own good, a good half hour should be cut. It's sad it's just a decent movie with all this potential.. Actors, good direction, good technical aspects.. Sad really..
Rated 30 Dec 2018
gideonGideon
Rated 21 Dec 2018
2
59th
BTatER tries to emulate a good film á Tarantino, but it simply isn't. The beginning to the middle is quite interesting and then it starts to fall apart steeply until the end. Worth a watch, a one-timer for me.
Rated 21 Dec 2018
jackdrekjackdrek
Rated 29 Nov 2018
53
37th
Excellent setting and world-building unfortunately wasted. The characters each have a mini-mystery surrounding them yet without any real consequence or meaningful interplay with the story, they're kinda just... there... and thrown together to haphazardly kill each other for frivolous reasons of coincidental circumstance with no pressing overarching mystery or end-game.
Rated 29 Nov 2018
bartbaardBartbaard
Rated 09 Nov 2018
60
43rd
Enjoyable, but it's a heavily action packed feature. The opening was strong, but the film plays as a TV series with its constant plot twist-esque tropes and flashback type character development. I came into the theater without expectations and was pleasantly surprised with both Pullman's and Hemsworth's acting. The setting of the El Royale hotel was very good as well. Yet it was mostly used for plot advancement, where I hoped the film would explore more of its setting and less on the characters.
Rated 09 Nov 2018
seethruskinSeethruskin
Rated 05 Nov 2018
4
51st
Pretty fun. Very indebted to Tarintino in style and plot. Great use of Wide shots in this.brings back The Rashomon effect which was pretty popular like a decade ago with some great films (before the devil knows you're dead).
Rated 05 Nov 2018
haui_memoHaui Memo
Rated 30 Oct 2018
6
29th
Bad Times at the El Royale is fine. Director Drew Goddard puts his influences and inspirations on display and does a convincing Quentin Tarantino impression. The problem is it never feels like anything more than that; the tools and gimmicks are all present and wielded with confidence but feel inorganic. It feels unfair to compare this to something from the master but it begs the comparison by digging so deep into his toolbox. So it falls flat. It's fine. Enjoyable but flat.
Rated 30 Oct 2018
closedmouthclosedmouth
Rated 27 Oct 2018
70
42nd
Entertaining throughout (though the pacing could have been tightened up), but certainly more interesting in the setup than the payoff. Big surprise, huh?
Rated 27 Oct 2018
bowfingerbowfinger
Rated 16 Oct 2018
50
42nd
As hard as the movie tries, it seems it just can't pull off what it sets out to do.
Rated 16 Oct 2018
sadmanSadman
Rated 14 Oct 2018
70
30th
Has so much going for it (The cast, the music, the direction, the visuals), but in the end the sum of its parts become less, rather than more. Feels overly written in the wrong way and the looping back and forth gets tiresome after a while.
Rated 14 Oct 2018
bizortbizort
Rated 13 Oct 2018
52
29th
A movie in dire need of an editor, with 2 hours of buildup and hardly any payoff. Pretty good performances and a few brilliant moments are surrounded by borderline boredom. I feel as though I need to watch it twice to fully get it but I cannot imagine a universe where I voluntarily sit through that dialog twice
Rated 13 Oct 2018
yoohooyoohoo
Rated 12 Oct 2018
75
52nd
A Tarantino knock off that does good, but not great. The characters are all there, but the plot, storytelling, dialogue, mise en scene, and music; pretty much every aspect of the movie wasn't nearly as tight as it could have been. But it got the job done. Goddard had a great vision, and after Cabin in the Woods (one of my all time favorites) I thought he'd be able to pull this off, and not to say he didn't, because it was certainly fun and enjoyable and *good*, but it left me wanting more.
Rated 12 Oct 2018
ippeiIppei
Rated 20 Feb 2024
65
45th
This reminded me of a 90s-type film that has multiple characters and all the stories collide, with all the flashbacks and change of POV. It was fun for what it was especially with a pretty fun cast to boot. Not all that memorable, but it's alright while you watch.
Rated 20 Feb 2024
angrypierreangrypierre
Rated 26 Oct 2023
53
23rd
Pseudo-Tarantino pastiche, only really gets fun once Chris Hemsworth arrives.
Rated 26 Oct 2023
videoetronVideoetron
Rated 10 Sep 2023
75
88th
I like how long it cultivated a mystery. The end felt a bit rushed in comparison, but otherwise I was hooked through
Rated 10 Sep 2023
evranaevrana
Rated 26 May 2023
73
56th
It takes its time to set the table but after that, they navigated multiple stories in a coherent manner very well; full of quirky characters played by great actors/actresses, it gets better and better as it gains steam and ends up with an admirable bang.
Rated 26 May 2023
yawgmothYawgmoth
Rated 27 Jan 2023
6
31st
It starts off decent enough and just goes downhill after the halfway point. Felt kind of like a mediocre Tarantino movie.
Rated 27 Jan 2023
somecriticsomecritic
Rated 12 Oct 2022
12
5th
Had great potential. The story was rushed.
Rated 12 Oct 2022
moncliviemonclivie
Rated 02 Sep 2022
73
51st
Could be much better without Dakota Johnson and all the things going wrong all the time in an extremely contrived way. How dumb can an FBI agent be, and how awesome is Billy's cult logistics? Some bonus points for reminding me about "He's a Rebel" song. Catchy as motherfucker.
Rated 02 Sep 2022
overratedoverrated
Rated 14 Apr 2022
49
46th
As other reviewers have said, this is obviously going for a Tarantino period piece style, but besides maybe Jon Hamm it's not compelling enough to work. Somewhat interesting that this preceded Tarantino's own Manson movie by a year, as well as using two songs prominently that Tarantino also went on to use in his own film.
Rated 14 Apr 2022
stariachistariachi
Rated 26 Dec 2021
70
50th
The setup is amazing, but it doesn't fully deliver in the end.
Rated 26 Dec 2021
lonewolf2003Lonewolf2003
Rated 09 Dec 2021
50
9th
It has many appealing elements; great cast, groovy music, solid directing. But too many half-baked ideas and serious pacing problems make this disappointing.
Rated 09 Dec 2021
elmakebabielmakebabi
Rated 30 Oct 2021
60
39th
It starts as a promising film with limited location and shady characters as well as a big mystery. It makes you confused, excited but eventually, we find out there is nothing behind the veil of mystery. It's just a gimmick to keep us occupied. The film doesn't reveal anything noteworthy. We don't even get the chance to find out the owners of the hotel for instance or the purpose behind the involvement of the police. Instead, we're left with a constrained, groundless kidnap subplot for no reason.
Rated 30 Oct 2021
gabrielpGabriel_p
Rated 29 Oct 2021
60
23rd
It wasn't all that interesting or fun to watch really. A rather mediocre movie I'd say. Not sure what all the fuzz is about
Rated 29 Oct 2021
future42future42
Rated 16 Oct 2021
30
34th
Good but not great, excels at nothing, not worth a rewatch.
Rated 16 Oct 2021
kojiKoji
Rated 20 Mar 2021
5
38th
A pretty movie about absolutely nothing.
Rated 20 Mar 2021
ella_mayElla May
Rated 30 Dec 2020
65
32nd
I couldn't finish watching, it became too violent and horrifying near the end. Beautiful and intriguing until the final long, abusive hostage scene. Multiple storylines, some of which die prematurely. Ultimately the primary story seems to be about Dakota Johnson and her younger, seemingly mentally undeveloped sister whom she thought she was protecting from abuse all their lives, but was actually overseeing her becoming a sociopath. Everyone else is just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Rated 30 Dec 2020
ernestinaErnestina
Rated 21 Oct 2020
80
84th
Superb storytelling! Characher depth and development, twists, fun - Bad Times at the El Royale has it all. You will have everything, except bad times!
Rated 21 Oct 2020

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