A murder mystery is a genre that can get a viewer intrigued and hooked as to trying to figure out who each character really is. With this movie, it is like Clue tied in with Quentin Tarantino movies more with Reservoir Dogs and The Hateful Eight (which was good but underwhelming compared to his previous work). But, this what the movie is a slow-burn Tarantino-esque film that is twisted, violent and a bit overlong. Overall, some of the violent surprises are derailed by a bit of too predictable moments and character arcs, however, I had a fun time experiencing this movie.
In 1969, some individuals arrive at the El Royale with their different agendas. Father Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges) meets with struggling lounge singer Darlene (Cynthia Erivo), who is on her way to Reno. Vacuum salesman Laramie Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm) is there getting himself acquainted drink and makes some rude comments towards Darlene because of her race, claiming to be joking. Emily Summerspring (Dakota Johnson) enters into the hotel dressed as a hippie and the hotel's sole employee, Miles Miller (Lewis Pullman), tends to the patrons and get them to sign their names on the itinerary.
The formerly extravagant El Royale hotel has fallen on dire financial straits since its gambling license has been revoked. But, four different people have attended the hotel with seemingly different missions, however, it may have to do with the prologue regarding a man named Felix (Nick Offerman) hiding a bag of money 10 years earlier.
I know that is not much to write regarding the synopsis but I cannot reveal what their mission or what their character arcs seem to be. I had more fun with the first half of the story as director Drew Goddard is paying an homage to Tarantino's movies by displaying different title cards focusing on different characters and their missions. You can easily tell by the opening that each character's agenda or personality can be deceiving because (surprise!) all of them are not who they seem to be. The movie seems to become a musical assortment of flavor with its on-the-nose songs in the center but with thrilling ideas and surprises, heartbreak, charisma and hard-core violence around it. Sometimes, the assortment works and sometimes, the assortment goes a long way and loses its edge especially towards the end of the movie.
The cast all around is fantastic. You sympathize Jeff Bridges as you can see that his character is not really a priest but you feel for him because he cannot think or say clearly because he is suffering from dementia. Cynthia Erivo is a revelation in this film as she conveys her true nature of power and vulnerability through her performance and also her singing as she struggles to get ahead in the singing industry. Jon Hamm has a quiet, under-the-radar performance. Dakota Johnson is fierce as the shot-gun wielding woman attempting to save her sister from the cult leader played by Chris Hemsworth, who uses his swagger and exposed six-pack for evil. And, even though his character is seemingly a cliche, it's great to see him have some fun for the role.
Goddard does a good job displaying the atmosphere in an isolated location that is somewhat of another homage to Hitchcock, specifically Psycho, because of the secluded, rundown hotel. However, he focuses so much on style, tone and atmosphere, he had strings on the plot in the first half but loses its way in the second half, persuading us to wait for the surprise and eventually, nothing happens which is disappointing. The last 10-15 minutes were the most conventional as you knew that it is a bonanza of violent action but it is retreated to conventions as you know which character lives and which character dies and it frustrated me. The end did feel like a conventional Hollywood ending where any director could have shot that. But, it is not enough to make me disappointed with the overall product, it is a good time at the Bad Times at the El Royale.
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