The Innkeepers Blu-ray Review

Director Ti West is one of horror cinema's most ambitious young filmmakers, and that's made him one potential "master of horror" to keep an eye on over the years. With his eerie take on '80s horror, The House of the Devil, he took a basic premise and designed the film to look and feel like a piece of vintage horror, right down to the tone and pace of the feature. The results were quite stunning (read our review of that film here).

With The Innkeepers (we'll brush past West's wayward sequel to Cabin Fever – a film he vehemently hates) writer/director Ti West takes on the classic ghostly chiller template, spinning a refreshingly fun and scary new yarn that plays on vintage slow-brewing horror cues, juxtaposed with rapid-fire, intense thrills that grow more and more intense as the film progresses (not unlike the visual horror from Insidious, for example). The results are an occasionally funny, lively horror film drawn from likeable, quirky characters and a genuinely eerie set piece – a haunted inn.

The film follows 20-something Claire (Sara Paxton, recovering from Shark Night) and her too-old-to-be-working-at-an-inn co-worker Luke (Pat Healy). The two hipster slackers are employees at The Yankee Pedlar Inn, which is set to close in just one week. Luke is working on a website that documents the scary paranormal activity in the inn, and he's managed to rope Claire into the fun. But when the amateur ghostbusters manage to uncover something genuinely supernatural, things spiral out of control.

Honestly, like most ghostly tales, if you don't buy the idea of ghosts, the film isn't going to win you over. Ghosts only seem to work for a select audience, whereas some see them as gimmicky and cheap. While The Innkeepers does manage to draw out plenty of slow-brewing, organic thrills and chills – even without the ghosts – those with a distaste for ghostly horror aren't likely to be that scared.

However, for those with a sweet tooth for ghostly horror, or even vintage chillers reminiscent of the Hitchcock era or films like The Shining, The Innkeepers is one hell of a ride. At first, the narrative plays things a bit comical, but slowly slips into an all-out screamfest. This is largely anchored by the film's principal leads. Sara Paxton makes Claire a goofy young gal, outgoing, but also really dorky, sweet and cute. She's perfectly paired with Healy's Luke, a man-child who seems lost without her, harboring a hint of despise for her hidden underneath his innocent crush. Both actors deliver two of the most naturalistic performances of 2011 and deserve credit for making their characters both entertaining, and very real.

But the real show-stopper is 73-year-old George Riddle, who plays a mysterious and completely haunting old man who checks into the inn right before it closes its doors for good. His voice is absolutely perfect, sending tingling chills down the spine from the very first moment he can be heard, and his physical performance is simply a knockout. While Mr. Riddle's screen time is brief, he makes a serious impact and elevates the tension of the picture to a whole new level – helping transition the audience from the lighthearted humor of the first act to the genuine horror of the final act.

The Innkeepers is a great slice of modern horror mixed with classic genre cues, all set in an eerie location that manages to freshen the story in more ways than one. The film is a little slow-going at first, but you've got to respect a movie for taking the time to set up its characters and build tension instead of relying on genre cliches and cheap thrills. Make no mistake, the film does play a few cheap tricks, but it's what it does in between those gags that really makes the horror of this ghostly tale work.


The Innkeepers comes to Blu-ray from MPI Media Group and Dark Sky Films. The transfer is presented in 1080p/AVC (2.40:1). Director Ti West adds a bit of class to The Innkeepers by shooting the film in 35MM, and the added texture and life of film really brings out the best in the movie, adding a quality often missing from many low-budget horror outings. That said, the print does come off just a hint soft at times, with hazy contrast most notable during the seemingly fluorescent-lit front desk scenes. The print also sported more than a few white specks. Considering House of the Devil's nuanced visuals, it's entirely possible those specks were a creative choice from director West. Regardless, they were worth noting here.

The Innkeepers is mixed in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Right before the film begins, audiences are advised to turn up the audio loud, likely to benefit from the film's eerie sound design. They weren't messing around. This lossless track is incredibly scary, with moody bass highlighting dozens of scenes, sometimes completely misdirecting the audience from the real scare. Other times, surrounds are put to use, adding little bumps, scratches and jolts to help create atmosphere and tension. And dialogue is expertly mixed, with no crackles or distortions noted whatsoever. If you're looking for the perfect mix to show off how great sound design can elevate the horror of a film, The Innkeepers should do the trick.

Extras for this release are pretty awesome. You're treated to two informative feature-length commentaries, each hosted by writer/director Ti West. One track features actors Sara Paxton and Pat Healy; the other track features producers Peter Phok and Larry Fessenden, and 2nd unit director/sound designer Graham Reznick. Both tracks have their strengths, with one track acting as a technical commentary, while the other delves into performance and story. Both are well worth a listen. Bonus features are topped off with a quick, but highly fascinating EPK making-of featurette that spotlights the shooting location of the film – a real haunted inn that the cast and crew also stayed at during production. The disc also features the film's original theatrical trailer, as well as trailers for other MPI releases.


The Innkeepers favors a slow, eerie brew, but if you dig a good ghostly chiller, the film will not disappoint. Just be sure to turn down the lights and adhere to the disc's warning to keep the mix loud. If done correctly, The Innkeepers is likely to scare the hell out of you.


"Cross over children. All are welcome. All welcome. Go into the Light. There is peace and serenity in the Light." Follow R.L. Shaffer on Twitter and Facebook, and head toward the Light.

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