Rating:
Startle Scenes: ††††
Atmosphere: †††††
Character development: †
Depth – horror class concepts: †††
The Monster: †††
About the Movie:
Watching The Innkeepers was a trip back to the classic basement ghost horror tale. Yes, you’re right, the one that keeps you at the edge of your seats, shouting at the protagonist not to go down the cellar stairs, because somehow, through the setting’s atmospheric build up, you are sure that something terrible is bound to happen (or show up). The same old formula: an unrest soul trapped in the four walls of the house because of an unfinished business, which consequently, and unfortunately, meant a curse for the unwelcomed (but then again, welcomed) guests. It follows the curiosity of The Yankee Pedlar Innkeepers, Luke and Claire, regarding the Inn’s haunted past, which can bring it back to life (pun intended). Luke and Claire are your typical working class, they struggle both financially (as shown in their efforts to bring interest back in the Inn) and with their bland, uneventful lives (chat with the coffee shop barista).
My initial impressions of the film, given the opening sequence composing black and white creepy images, was that it was going to be dark and serious; that it will focus mainly on the ghost preying on the guests of the hotel, terrorizing them until the end. After watching it, I was kind of underwhelmed by its ability to scare me. It’s startle moments were a little above the average. For me, its strongest point is its ability to build up an atmosphere, I really felt like the Inn cam alive slowly.
Just like some of the classics, The Shining to mention one, the build up of the horror atmosphere was slow but on point; one can feel the setting, the The Yankee Pedlar Inn, come alive, as the protagonist are slowly trying uncovering the layers of mystery surrounding it. The Inn was the ghosts’ medium in making their presence felt. The eerie tone of the the whole place, the hallways, the antique yet ironically cold rooms, the humming of the laundry area, the garage, the basement, even the receptionists’ desk with the silver bell; they all elicit some sort of a clam before the storm.
The film however, just like its classic references, is good at building up the sense of terror through images and encounters that keep one’s spirit jumpy then cut short in many instances, well until that moment when the “unknown” finally reveals itself. The slow phase of the movie assures that certain images are embedded on the minds of its audience, like the creepy creaking signage of the hotel, the staircase, the corridors, the piano, the recording device, the Déjà vu’s. These seemingly peripheral and minuscule details, are the devices of the ghosts, their very presence, that makes the experience more than the startle moment.
Here we see an actual depiction of Noel Carroll’s explanation of the horror genre’s effectivity based on playing with its audience’s curiosity, with the process of discovery, proof, and confirmation. The Innkeepers is a good example showing how the process of building horror is linked to the process of disclosure of the monster.
How should I think critically about this movie?
One interesting point made by the movie is the juxtaposition of the problems of the working class and the elite. Think of it, the hotel employees who are near the bottom of the social ladder (as emphasized by Lee’s demeaning and condescending comments regarding Claire’s dreams,) resort to somewhat a form of escapism with ghosts and paranormal activity; while Madeline O’Malley’s dilemma was the she was left by her fiance, which lead to her suicide. However in the spirit realm, which absorbed Claire in the end, everyone is in a state of equity, no past, present, or future. The thing that she found escape in, ghost hunting, as a repressed member of society (as part of the proletariat, like Wood talks about) have fully engulfed her. This makes me contemplate how the outcasts in the peripherals of society can prey on each other; and how the spiritual realm becomes a common ground for everyone.
To further emphasize the film’s socio-economic themes, just look at this poster:
Strongest Elements of the Film:
I really liked the utilization of the ghost-hunting equipment to record EVPs, it lets its audience experience the very scientific way of discovering (or communicating) with the supernatural, that we commonly watch in documentaries like True Ghost Stories. It was an effective tool because it made the haunting more realistic and kind of scientific. I also got the feeling that it was a way of hearing the Inn breathe.
The cellar was a good throwback to the classics although it wasn’t built up that much. Through introducing something familiar, horror fans can immediately capture a certain horror-linked mood and memory.
Favorite Scene
/Scariest Scene
The scariest scene for me was when Claire discovers the old man in the bathtub, and then being consequently chased down by him (almost naked which makes this also the grossest scene) to the basement. There is something very creepy about the old man (last guest) character. It seems like introducing him as the last guest signifies the start of the doom that was bound to happen.
Do I Recommend it?
Overall, the movie’s strongest element is the Inn itself. I recommend it to traditional horror movie goers who enjoy just the right amount of scare; and enjoys a movie that safely operates within the standard rulers and procedures of the ghost horror genre. Expect a slow and steady buildup and a sprint towards the end. No need for any preparations, enjoy the film for what it is, a conventional and clean dose of ghosts hunting hotels
COM115.9 