A little over a year ago, I had the opportunity to catch a new film that reminded me of one of the films that sparked my interest in analyzing films in the first place. Sweet Relief was a fun and well-crafted modern mumblegore film that brought Ti West’s The Innkeepers back into my mind. I first watched The Innkeepers shortly before leaving for college, and I was stunned by how incredibly effective it was. To celebrate Dark Sky Select’s 4K steelbook release of The Innkeepers, I decided to give the film a well-deserved rewatch.
The Innkeepers: A Haunting Ghost Story
The Innkeepers follows Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy), the last two employees of The Yankee Pedlar Inn. Claire and Luke find themselves working during the hotel’s last week in operation. They also happen to be amateur ghost hunters. Due to the small number of guests, Claire and Luke have some time to put their ghost hunting tools to good use. As the hunting begins, the terror checks in. Is there more to this ghost story than meets the eye?
Before his flashy slasher trilogy, Ti West’s films had a darker, more personal feel to them. After wowing audiences with his satanic panic masterpiece The House of the Devil, Ti West tackled the true terrors of the supernatural. As much as I adore Ti West, this would be his last film that perfectly balances style and substance. Obviously, the goal of an artist is to grow and transform as a filmmaker, but this feels like West’s last intimate film.
Mumblegore Dialogue: Natural and Grounded
The Innkeepers keeps with the mumblegore-like dialogue West was so great at creating. There’s still that improvisational, but naturalistic, feel to their words. And while the situation becomes extraordinary, the dialogue still feels grounded in reality. Somehow, for a 2011 film, West finds a way to competently direct actors in saying the words “epic” and “failblog”. It’s the exposition of the film that truly sets it apart from others like it. While talking with a child in the lobby, Claire reveals the backstory of Madeline O’Malley and her untimely suicide in the hotel. It’s a small moment that could easily be a throwaway detail to provide the audience with the necessary backstory. But it’s Sara Paxton’s performance that sells the scene.
Speaking of, both Sara Paxton and indie darling Pat Healy absolutely tear it up on screen. Sara Paxton’s performance is reserved and lived in. She carries herself awkwardly, with little self-confidence, but still finds a way to be charming. Indie darling Pat Healy chews up the scenery with his Tintin-like faux hawk and a Red Bull-infused high energy. Not only do they steal their respective scenes alone, but they also play off each other like a fast-paced tennis volley.
Supernatural Horror Done Right
Ti West’s magnum opus handles the supernatural element in a much cleaner, fascinating way than most ghost films. The slow pace highlights the mundanity of working-class life that quickly becomes tense through the creeping terror of Madeline O’Malley and her growing cohorts of terror. There’s a certain unbalanced feel to the film’s three-act structure that lends an air of authenticity to it. Whereas most supernatural films feel the need to do more, The Innkeepers understands that it’s okay to do less. It’s how the scares are delivered that sets this film apart.
If you haven’t seen The Innkeepers, then you’re truly missing out on one of the subgenre’s greatest hits. That being said, I don’t think this film is for everyone. Ti West asks a lot from his audience, and I can understand that some people won’t want to go with him on this ride. It’s talky and demands full attention. But if you’re willing to sit with the film and let it work its magic, you won’t be disappointed.
