Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

*Bad Times at the El Royale* immediately ensnares viewers in a web of intrigue by gathering seven disparate strangers at a dilapidated, once-grand hotel straddling the Nevada and California border. Each character arrives burdened with a past they desperately want to keep hidden, turning simple introductions into carefully orchestrated facades. The very setting, with its forgotten grandeur and secret passages, feels like a silent accomplice to the unfolding mysteries, posing the immediate question: What truly brings these particular individuals together, and what dark intentions lie beneath their polite exteriors? As the night progresses, the film expertly unravels its complex narrative through a series of interlocking flashbacks and increasingly tense encounters. Viewers are drawn into a meticulous puzzle, piecing together the true identities of a charismatic cult leader, a struggling singer, a seemingly pious priest, and other enigmatic figures, each revelation twisting the plot in unexpected ways. The mystery isn't just *who* these people are, but *why* they've been drawn to this specific place at this specific time, leading to a thrilling collision of hidden agendas, betrayals, and a high-stakes search for something valuable. Its masterful blend of suspense, character-driven secrets, and a richly detailed, non-linear structure makes *Bad Times at the El Royale* a compelling and intelligent entry into the pantheon of great mystery cinema.