Forgotten Low Budget Horror Masterpiece Makes You Believe In Ghosts
Writer and director Ti West has made a name for himself in the horror genre, with his X trilogy being one of the biggest new horror franchises of the 2020s. Despite the popularity of that franchise, when I think of the director, it’s his 2011 ghost movie The Innkeepers that instantly comes to mind. Half indie slacker comedy, half classic supernatural horror, it’s a movie that has stuck with me for over a decade and I think it’s time for it to be rediscovered.
The Innkeepers
The Innkeepers centers around Claire and Luke, a pair of employees at the Yankee Pedlar Inn during its final week open to the public. Claire and Luke plan to use the inn’s closing as an opportunity to investigate the hotel’s notorious ghost activity for Luke’s ghost-hunting website.
The supernatural activity builds, and the amateur ghost hunters are tormented by the spirits haunting the inn.
A Memorable Horror Movie
It’s the stark difference between the first and second half of The Innkeepers that makes it a special and memorable horror movie.
The movie’s first half is spent exploring Claire and Luke’s relationship, making them both quirky and likable before pivoting into more overt horror in its second half.
As a result, it’s the rare horror movie where the protagonists are so likable I don’t want them to die, filling every scary moment with an additional layer of tension and dread.
Great Performances
Of course, the performances are critical to making Clair and Luke likable enough to cheer for. Co-leads Sara Paxton and Pat Healey carry the movie with compelling performances, bringing a natural rapport to their friendship.
Kelly McGillis plays the only other substantial character in the small film, the retired actress turned psychic Leanne, bringing a more serious energy to the film.
Another unique element that makes The Innkeepers so compelling is its setting, the real-world Yankee Pedlar Inn, with some of the movie shot at the hotel. It lends the movie a combination of creepy atmosphere contrasted with the familiar comfort of a rustic hotel.
This setting inspired the movie after the crew of West’s previous film, The House of the Devil, shared horror stories about their stay at the inn during production.
Eerily Beautiful Shots
Ti West’s skills as a director and writer are on display in The Innkeepers, predicting his rise in popularity.
The movie shows off its ability to show off eerily beautiful shots in its first half while giving viewers more intense, jarring horror visuals in its second half.
More importantly, it shows off West’s phenomenal character work which is what made his character-driven spin-offs Pearl and MaXXXine possible.
Streaming The Innkeepers
Fans looking for a high-octane horror movie with a large body count and fun, frequent scares may find The Innkeepers slow, but I love its unique approach. Its slow pace and small cast give the characters time to develop while building a very gradual creeping dread that explodes into a terrifying finale.
It’s one of my favorite horror movies, and I implore horror movie fans who are craving something new to watch it for free on Tubi.
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