As a fan of Drew Goddard’s THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, I wasn’t sure what to make of his latest when I first saw the preview. That is, until I saw it. BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE simply blew me away. The cast is exceptional, including Dakota Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Jeff Bridges, Lewis Pullman, Cailee Spaeny and Cynthia Erivo. And the script twists and turns so much so that you are truly taken on a ride. This is a modern noir masterpiece of violence that is smart and stylish and most importantly, unexpected. So unexpected that you should go in knowing as little as you can.
We recently sat down with this incredible cast, and during our conversations, Cailee and Dakota discussed their on-screen relationship while Jon Hamm talked about taking on a very different role for the actor. In fact, Drew does such a remarkable job at giving actors a chance to shine in unique ways that it really is a special experience.
As well, we also talked to Lewis Pullman, Jeff Bridges and the incredible Cynthia Erivo. One of the biggest surprises for me was the use of music, and it was a joy to hear Erivo sing. The three actors talked about working with Drew and the twisted nature of the script. This is the kind of movie that it is always entertaining to see some of your favorite actors take a chance on and it works brilliantly.
And finally, we talked to Drew about the film, the casting and just how he approached the material. If you are a fan of this type of movie, something that is dark, funny and loaded with twists, I highly recommend that you take this one on – you can check out Chris Bumbray’s review here. BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE hits theaters this Friday, and it is definitely worth checking in.