Near the end of “The Innkeepers,” a low-budget ghost story set in a decaying New England inn, it begins to dawn on the viewer that there is no plot twist, reversal or hidden hand unveiled to explain or justify one’s time and attention — the film is a 100-minute tease of a horror flick.
Horror specialist Ti West is an expert at establishing suspense. Cameras creep down gloomy hallways. Eerie noises echo from outside the frame of a close-up, giving the illusion of peril around the next corner. Yet this meditation on the slow burn turns out to be downright frosty. It’s a shame, because so much here is well executed. The score by Jeff Grace is brooding and atmospheric, replete with moody, “Psycho”-style cello hooks. Mr. West’s metier is a gentler, more artful and almost antique brand of horror. The gore is sparingly deployed, with no sadistic catchphrases or pointlessly inflated body counts.
The gritty, lo-fi look is matched by naturalistic performances by the leads — Sara Paxton as Claire and Pat Healy as Luke. They play clerks at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, counting down the days until its planned closure. With the owner away on vacation and the other staff laid off, the two move into the hotel for the weekend and divvy up the chores. The two are archetypical slackers — college dropouts with no plans. But they share an interest in the history of the hotel — said to be haunted by the jilted ghost of Madeline O’Malley, who killed herself waiting for her fiance.
Armed with a souped-up tape recorder and microphone, the two scour the hotel taking readings, and hoping for some evidence of Madeline’s ghost. They are aided by the serendipitous arrival of Leanne Rease-Jones, a TV actress turned psychic played by Kelly McGillis. The movie lingers on the way the three interact. Luke is arrogant and self-deprecating all at once, and Mr. West cleverly interlaces Luke’s interest in catching the ghost and his accelerating crush on Claire. Miss Paxton plays Claire as a bit of an ingenue, embarrassed by her lack of worldliness and ambition, but also plucky and determined. She’s also a big fan of Leanne’s, and looks past her snobbery and alcoholism to try to interest her in helping to contact the hotel’s supernatural resident.
As to what happens next, the short answer is not much. “The Innkeepers” will be of interest to horror buffs who are immersed in the history of the genre, and take an interest in filmmaking technique. However, everyday moviegoers are likely to overlook its modest pleasures and wonder why it took 100 minutes to tell what amounts to a short story.
★ ★
TITLE: The Innkeepers
CREDITS: Written and directed by Ti West
RATING: R for suspense, profanity, mild gore
RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes
MAXIMUM RATING: FOUR STARS
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