The Innkeepers (2011)

Posted By: brian@brianschell.com February 21, 2024

Spoiler-Free Judgment Zone

It’s got a great location and all the technical aspects are good. It’s so slow with not much happening that Horror Guy Kevin lost all interest in it about halfway through. It’s not a slow build so much as a drive on a flat road through the country for what feels like too many miles. There is some pay off at the end when it finally gets there, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy.

Spoilery Synopsis

Claire goes into the Yankee Pedlar Inn, right past a sign that says “Going out of business.” Luke is already there; it’s just the two of them working these final days. They’re both into paranormal stuff, and he pranks her good. 

Claire spots Leanne Rease-Jones, a celebrity actress, as she checks in. Claire is awestruck at Leanne’s reputation. The hotel is nearly empty tonight, so Claire hopes to see one of the many rumored ghosts. The other guest is an angry woman who had an argument with her husband, and her young son. 

Claire goes to the coffee shop next door, and the barista there overshares way too much information. Luke goes upstairs to bed, leaving Claire alone at the front desk. She reads Luke’s “Haunting” website, and reads all about the “Widow of the Yankee Pedlar.” 

The next day, Claire tells the little boy the story of Madeline O’Malley, who hung herself in the hotel; the owners hid her body in the cellar for three days. Since then, People have reported seeing her ghost. His mother doesn’t appreciate the story and yells at Claire and Luke. 

Claire really wants to get Madeline on tape tonight. She takes EVP readings in the laundry room and other places. She sees a couple of the keys on the piano press, and she flips out. She talks to Leanne, who says she’s given up acting; she’s a spiritual healer now. Claire admits that she wants to know more about Madeline. Leanne says there are three spirits; they just want to live. “You mustn’t go down into the basement,” she warns. “You can’t save her.” Claire then goes to bed but gets a scare. 

In the morning, Luke says he doesn’t believe in ghosts. Then an old man comes in, and he wants to check into room 353, the honeymoon suite. The third floor is closed, but the old man insists. There’s no furniture in those rooms, but he says he’ll sleep on a sheet. He’s a weird old guy who says his honeymoon was here, many years ago. 

Claire and Luke get drunk that night and re-enact Claire’s encounter with the piano. They decide it might be fun to explore the old basement. They get some EVP readings on their meter and decide that the ghost is there with them. Luke admits that he’s never seen a ghost before; he just made it all up to impress Claire. He gets in his car and drives away. 

Claire goes up to Leanne’s room and wakes her up, asking for help. Leanne goes into the basement and is contacted by something. She comes upstairs and tells Claire to pack her things and get out, it’s not safe here. Claire runs upstairs to tell the old man that he has to evacuate, but finds the old man dead from suicide. 

Claire runs downstairs and finds that Luke has returned. She tells him what’s happened. Luke goes upstairs to figure out what’s keeping Leanne, and Claire thinks she hears Leanne in the basement. When she sees the old dead man, she falls down the steps. Then she finds Madeline, who comes after her. 

We cut to some paramedics wheeling out a body; it’s Claire. The police are there for her and the old man; they want Luke and Leanne to come in for questioning. Luke goes inside to find Leanne in Claire’s room. She says there’s nothing anyone could have done for Claire; then they get in the police cars and drive away. 

We cut back to Claire’s room, where the door slams closed. 

Commentary

It’s got a tiny cast, and was filmed in a real old hotel, so it’s probably pretty low budget. It looks good and has a good soundtrack, but it’s surprisingly slow. There are a few good horror bits right at the end, but it’s extremely slow getting there. Early on, it almost feels like it’s going to be a comedy, but that gets forgotten fairly quickly. 

It’s slow and very low-stakes. It was well made, but it felt like more should have happened.