Bad Times At The El Royale Review: 6 Ups & 2 Downs

4. Cynthia Erivo Steals The Show

If you have no idea who Cynthia Erivo is before watching this movie, you'll sure as hell remember the Tony Award-winning British actress by the time it's all over.

Erivo gives a star-making performance as on-the-skids singer Darlene Sweet, stealing practically every scene she's in - and she's in the movie a lot - with her unconventional femme fatale persona and insane singing voice.

Goddard clearly knew he was onto a winner here with Erivo, giving her countless opportunities throughout the film to showcase her singing pipes, and even integrating it into the plot in a significant and unexpected way.

She's also the closest thing the movie has to an audience surrogate, sharing our shock and awe at everything that unfolds. Erivo does a fantastic job whether she's singing or kicking some a**, and considering that she'll shortly be co-starring in Steve McQueen's Widows, don't be surprised if her popularity explodes over the next few years.