'The Innkeepers' Video On Demand Review (2012)
A below average ghost story like every below average ghost story you've seen before
Photo: Magnet Releasing
NOTE: This is a review based on the Video On Demand release, which is how I watched it for $9.99. The film hits limited theaters on February 3, 2012.
While some praised writer/director Ti West's The House of the Devil back in 2009, it left me frustrated as he mined standard horror film cliches under the guise of an '80s horror throwback. Creepy characters at the center of the story and girls that went into rooms they shouldn't were the order of the day and while The Innkeepers shows West is trying new things as a screenwriter and attempting to let the audience play along, he still runs into the same scenario where I was left wondering why characters were making the decisions they were and why other characters keep vital information to themselves. Essentially, it's a bit lazy and amateur.
The cast includes Sara Paxton, Pat Healy and Kelly McGillis. For more information on this film including pictures, trailers and a detailed synopsis choose from the following menu.
Review
"The Innkeepers" is a Magnet Releasing release, directed by Ti West and is rated R for language, some sexual references and brief drug material. The running time is 1 hour 43 minutes.
Luke, an innocent, yet nerdy guy who probably goes home to his comic books and porn collection, claims to have seen the ghost and has been using the story to keep close to Claire. He's set up a website and has EVP recording equipment which Claire has taken a particular interest in, though I never got the impression either of them actually wanted to see the ghost. In fact, they're both a little too scared to serve as proper ghost hunters, which brings a level of unbelievability to most of the scenarios, especially when they decide to go searching in the basement.
Joining the story is one-time famed actress Leanne Rease-Jones (played by Kelly McGillis of all people) who is staying in one of the rooms as she now serves as some sort of medium between this world and the next and she has a speaking engagement in town. Big surprise, Leanne pretty much becomes the standard character with all the answers, but like all people "in the know," her warnings are ignored, primarily because she doesn't actually explain what she's "seen". Here in lies this film's biggest issue.
The Innkeepers is really more of a ghost mystery than a suspenseful thriller. The ending is left seemingly open, more so because West does his best to make sure the clues are kept hidden. Instead of actually telling a story, West insists on cutting off conversations and only giving you clues, but I will save you the trouble and tell you now to pay attention to two separate statements from Leanne which will lead you to the truth of the finale. However, you'll spend the rest of the time meeting characters that have little to nothing to do with the overall narrative.
These characters include a lady and her young son who are staying at the inn as a means of giving Claire and Luke something to do. A late arrival also lacks in imaginative storytelling since you know exactly why he's there. You'd think that for a film that only has four supporting characters they could serve a little more purpose than just plot devices, cryptic psychics or random asides, but that's pretty much what you get here.
Sara Paxton's Claire is primarily the focal point of the story, playing Claire as something of a slightly more intelligent version of Anna Faris's Scary Movie character, an irony that does not go unnoticed. West also decides it would be best if Claire had asthma as if that isn't a character trait we haven't seen in the movies before. I know he expected it to add a little wrinkle to the film's ending, but when you get down to it, it just doesn't matter one way or the other.
As for the others, Leanne has a drinking problem and Luke is just a lazy bum with a crush and none of this is explored to any satisfying degree. The characters aren't likable or interesting enough to cause an audience to want to fill in the blanks where West's screenplay was lacking.
The Innkeepers could have been a passable ghost story had less energy gone into the slight mystery at the end and more on telling a story. Then again, even the word "mystery" seems generous once all things are considered.
After seeing two films from West now, I can only surmise he is unable to break out of genre tropes and has very little that is actually "new" to bring to the table. If anything, The Innkeepers benefits from Paxton's performance, such as a mildly entertaining trip to the trash, but it's a scene that could have been in any movie and for that matter had no place in this one.
From the strange woman who seems to know more than she's letting on to the girl that shouldn't go in the room, but she's going in anyway, The Innkeepers is just like The House of the Devil in that it lacks originality and on top of that isn't all that interesting in the first place. It's clear West has a love for the genre he's chosen for his films, but it would be appreciated if he could come up with a few ideas of his own.
Links from Other Sites You May Like
Showing 11 Comments
~ PLEASE NOTE ~
If, in any way, your comment is an attack on the author of this post or a previous commenter, your comment will be deleted without question.
Add a New Comment |
Click to Read Our Commenting Rules & Guidelines
100% agree. i watched it last week and was really looking forward to it and then the movie ended and I had no idea what the point of what I just watched was.
Sara Paxton was actually really good in the movie, just no scares, or anything else at all happening.
I still don't get the ending, you couldn't clarify what two separate statements from Leanne are important, I'm lost. other than that I fully agree with you
I've heard nothing but good things about this flick… I absolutely love Ti West as a director and found myself completely blown away with what he was able to accomplish with The House of the Devil. A very Suspiria-esque slow-burner that could fit snugly in the 80s. As for his other films, I adore the Roost and was surprised with Cabin Fever 2, but have yet to see Trigger Man.
I'll definitely be checking this out as soon as possible, as it was one of my most anticipated movies of 2012. I'm really hoping I won't be disappointed!
I agree with most of your points about THE INNKEEPERS, however, I think that whatever Ti West lacks as a screenwriter, he makes up for in directing.
He has a great knack for creating scares and tension in a way that nobody else working in the horror genre right now can manage. He's great at casting his roles well and creating endearing characters you care about. The performances he gets are on the money.
I think that he should only direct and not write his next film. I hope he breaks out in a big way some day soon.
Wow. That was pretty harsh, buddy. I felt the film was a subtle ghost story that was more interested in building atmosphere slowly than throwing a series of throw-away scares at the audience and the protagonists. Which, by the way, were played extremely realistic and had a level of dimension to them not usually found in horror films. I'm sorry we didn't see the same film. I would encourage horror fans to check it out.
I would agree with you if the characters fit the narrative and if so many of their actions weren't so traditional for the genre. Nothing felt new or fresh as much as it just felt like more of the same. My take at least, but I'm glad you like it and I hope more people do see it as independent cinema needs to be seen and discussed.
I just watched this movie last night and I have to say that a D+ grading is pretty generous. I went into this with no expectations having never seen The House of the Devil so it wasn't as if I went in with high expectations.
The first act was promising but the whole story became a big mess with random characters that added nothing to the story and ridiculous character turns (the actress/medium and the asthma). The direction wasn't much better than the script with the ending beforing a muddled mess and very few moments of suspense. Furthermore, most of the acting was awful. Overall this just seemed like amateur hour.
As an ongoing series on Rope of Silicon I'll be evaluating Brad's response to 2012 movies he was anticipating more than The Hobbit. The Innkeepers rated # 30 on his list compared to The Hobbit's # 38, and after a D+ review he is now 0 for 1.
That should be interesting. I did mention in the #31-40 list for this year that of the 25 films I listed as my 25 Most Anticipated of 2011 only two — Hanna and Midnight in Paris — made my year end top ten while The Adjustment Bureau, which was on my most anticipated of 2010, made my 2011 top ten as well.
Not surprised.
I was always baffeld by the fan love for "House of the Devil".
It struck me as boring and passionless, just eager to emulate an 80s style.
Word
I'm always disappointed when people don't like The House of the Devil. Of course it doesn't cover "new ground" in a generic sense, that's not the point. It's very well realized characters in a throwback film (but not as tongue-in-cheek as something like Grindhouse; which I also enjoyed). Not to mention highly skillful filmmaking for those who are fond of the slow-burn. It's for those people who appreciate the genre. If you don't, then why would you even see it in the first place? Ti West is a great filmmaker who seems to know exactly what he wants. Can't wait for The Innkeepers. Expectations adjusted accordingly, of course.