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movie review - Bad Times at the El Royale

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Where to start. This is a crime-of-opportunity movie: not a caper flick, where everyone is in on a heist; and not something like a hostage situation where unwitting parties are put through an ordeal. It's more like a situation is developing and virtually everyone involved is someone ready to participate at the drop of a hat. The scene is a motel in the 1970s, the players include a variety of colorful desperadoes and grifters, and the tone is winkingly lethal.

I enjoyed the clever plot and the enraging situation created by the hotel's designers and operators. I liked the characters, I found their actions clever and reasonable (for the situation) and I liked the contained nature of the set. I'd happily watch this again.

Recommended.