'The Innkeepers' is a good ghost hunt

By Connor de Bruler
debrulerc@mytjnow.com

Now this is a great horror film for any occasion. Ti West’s fourth film, “The Innkeepers” is another classic homage to early 80’s schlock cinema. 

Two lonely college drop-outs have been eking out an existence of malt liquor, hotel conciergmanship and paranormal research at The Yankee Peddler Inn. The hotel is now in its final weekend of business. There are only three guests. It’s the perfect time for a ghost hunt. 

The film draws upon popular shows like “Ghosthunters” and “Destination Truth,” which is my favorite. The female and male leads are quirky hipsters who employ slightly Diablo-Codyesque dialogue, but their enthusiasm for the craft of EVP sessions is amazing. 

Ti West has not yet made a bad movie. Even his straight-to-video sequel, Cabin Fever 2, wasn’t bad. It was rip-roaring razor-tipped journey into adolescent hell.  Hell being the subject of his 2009 triumph, “The House of the Devil,” starring that girl from the Windows 7 commercials. 

God damn it, his movies are good. 

“The Innkeepers” is more like a Kubrick film with a Tarantino sense of itself, as though the film knows it’s a film deep down. 

This picture certainly fulfils its own purposes rather than the wants and needs of its characters. The characters ultimately become pawns in a cosmic trans-dimensional scheme beyond human understanding. 

It’s a classic setup. 

Make no mistake, though; this movie isn’t a gory torture porno. It’s a tense tight-rope walk. 

The story doesn’t twist in a 360-fashion, but there are simply-perfect, full, rich and creamy developments in the story, rendering the cinema experience superb. 

So if you can, pressure the Dina’s Place folks to show “The Innkeepers” and “House of the Devil” for a great cool director celebration. It’s a brainchild of mine. 

This is your man Connor on the front lines of life. Purple is a flavor for medicine companies and Jesus would probably enjoy this movie.