Why Bad Times at the El Royale is the Underrated Classic of 2018

In a year packed with box office juggernauts, Bad Times at the El Royale quietly slipped under the radar when it was released in 2018. It’s high time we corrected that oversight. Drew Goddard’s neo-noir thriller is a beautifully crafted love letter to the pulp mysteries of the past, infused with the tension of a stage play and the bold style of a Tarantino classic.

It’s a film that refuses to rush, daring instead to build its story piece by piece, character by character, song by soulful song. The result is a mesmerising blend of mystery, music, and moral ambiguity that lingers long after the credits roll.

From its striking opening sequence to its haunting finale, Bad Times is the rare kind of film where every element — from the set design to the performances to the soundtrack — feels meticulously considered. The El Royale itself is more than a setting; it’s a crumbling monument to lost glamour and hidden sin, a place where secrets quite literally live in the walls.

The cast is stacked with heavy hitters like Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, and Chris Hemsworth, but it’s Cynthia Erivo who delivers the film’s soul, both figuratively and musically. Her powerhouse vocals and quiet strength bring emotional heft to a story that explores faith and redemption.

How Music Turns Danger into Drama

One of the most unforgettable aspects of Bad Times at the El Royale is how deeply and intentionally it weaves music into the drama. Nowhere is this more powerful than in the film’s pulse-pounding finale, featuring a harrowing roulette scene underscored by Deep Purple’s eerie, snarling cover of “Hush.”

Roulette has long featured in films and television shows. However, we are now more accustomed to the online variations of roulette that are found among other online casino games. These versions often have more ‘untraditional’ themes, like Xtreme Fire Blaze Roulette and others, which add a twist to the classic game seen in Bad Times at the El Royale. Nothing quite prepares you for the deadly tension of the villainous Billy Lee’s interpretation of roulette in Bad Times at the El Royale. 

While the game is known for its entertainment value, both in person and in its online variants, in this tense film scene Goddard flips the table, turning a familiar game of chance into a standoff that crackles with menace.

As the villainous Billy Lee (Chris Hemsworth) forces his terrified captives to gamble with their lives, the track doesn’t merely accompany the moment; it defines it, turning the scene into a darkly choreographed dance of dread. The music of Deep Purple transforms Billy’s menace into something almost mythic.

Throughout the film, music doesn’t just accompany the action; it helps shape it. From Darlene’s haunting acapella echoing through the voyeuristic tunnels to Billy Lee’s seductive entrance underscored by the deceptively cheerful “Twelve Thirty,” each track adds an eerie beauty to the film’s darkest turns.

A Modern Classic, Hiding in Plain Sight

Bad Times at the El Royale is more than just a stylish thriller. It’s a masterclass in mood and mystery. Overlooked upon release, it deserves a second look as one of 2018’s boldest and most original films. A true hidden gem, it’s time this classic got its due.