Ti West has a style, a writing style and a certain directing style. I seem to like this style as I have enjoyed the three films I have seen that he has written and directed. If you are not familiar with the other film I did a review back in August, House of the Devil, check it out here. I liked the film so much that it ended up on Rayzor’s Top 100 horror films for 2015 number 94. But I am not going to waste anymore time talking about that film, check it out the link if you want to know about the House of the Devil. The question is…how do I feel about the Innkeepers?
In ways the Innkeepers starts the same as House of the Devil, slow. But pay attention and if you don’t the film could pass you by. The film is about a Hotel, the Yankee Pedlar Inn, a once grand hotel, in it’s final days open as it is about to close down. The movie follows to young employees who are working the last 24 hours the Yankee Pedlar is open. Luke, one of the employees has been trying to capture the haunted past of the Inn and he even runs a website about the hotel’s haunted past. The female Claire believes the things Luke has told her and wants to see something happen. They have only three guests a mother and son and an older actress played by Kelly McGillis, who happens to have an ability to contact the dead. That is how the film starts and the last of the spoilers.
This film as I said, was similar to the House of the Devil in a way that you knew something was going to happen, eventually. So damned suspenseful, goose bumps all over at points in the film, especially the final seconds. It was a build and then a couple of payoffs here and there, then a final payoff. It was great, between the score and feeling of the film, tons of dread that sets up the truly creepy moments. I love these films by TI West, you get a slow burn and feel something coming and then, baam you get kicked right in the throat. It is not all like other horror out there, cheap jump scares and horrible stories. The story is not too strong, but it wasn’t bad. Once in a while you get a good one, but most of the Hollywood produced horror films are no good. This low budget “indy” film was good and I do suggest it to any fan of horror. I liked it but more than likely will not hit the top 100 like House of the Devil. Then again, it was not even in contention this year for the first annual Horror Syndicate’s Top 100 Horror Films, coming this October.
TI West also has a segment in the film V/H/S, which I may have been one of my favorite segments. He also did a segment in the ABCs of Death. I never had the feeling of wanting to see the sequel to Cabin Fever, Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever until today when I learned it was directed by TI West. It is in my collection, so I guess I will have to watch Cabin Fever 2 soon. Interestingly enough, Cabin Fever got me into Eli Roth, who is awesome and a entirely different realm of horror. Another Ti West movie to check out, the Sacrament, which is on Netflix. He has an upcoming release this fall, September called In a Valley of Violence, a western.
Wow, off topic, check out the Innkeepers, It is available on the Hulu along with the House of the Devil.
IMDB.com has a rating of 5.5 and I have a slightly higher rating, 6.8.
You know, I am a sucker for a good movie poster, check this poster for the Innkeepers, I love it!
