The Innkeepers Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two bored hotel clerks get paid to be scared of the ghost they’re desperately trying to find, and one of them gets a really bad case of the Mondays, permanently.

🍿 The Innkeepers: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to The Yankee Pedlar Inn

The Yankee Pedlar Inn is preparing to close its doors for good. Claire and Luke, two employees with a shared interest in the paranormal, are working the final weekend. They decide to use this opportunity to investigate the inn’s rumored haunted past, hoping to find evidence of the ghost of Madeline O’Malley.

Investigating the Inn’s History

Claire and Luke use various methods to try and contact the supernatural. They use a ghost-hunting app, record electronic voice phenomena (EVP), and explore the inn’s most notorious locations. Along the way, they encounter some strange occurrences that leave them questioning whether or not the inn is truly haunted.

Encounters with Guests and Psychic Medium

The inn’s limited guests include an angry mother with her son, an elderly man requesting a specific room, and Leanne Rease-Jones, a former actress turned psychic medium. Leanne warns Claire about the dangers of amateur ghost hunting and advises her to be careful. As Claire delves deeper, the activity intensifies.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Claire (Sara Paxton): A young and curious hotel employee who is eager to experience the paranormal and uncover the Yankee Pedlar Inn’s haunted past.
• Luke (Pat Healy): Claire’s cynical co-worker and fellow ghost enthusiast who helps investigate the inn’s ghostly legends.
• Leanne Rease-Jones (Kelly McGillis): A former actress turned psychic who stays at the inn and offers her insight into the paranormal activities.
• Madeline O’Malley (N/A): The ghost of a bride who allegedly committed suicide at the inn and is believed to haunt the premises.
• Angry Mom (Alison Bartlett): A guest at the inn traveling with her son.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Luke: “Pessimism is just a higher form of optimism. If you expect nothing from people, then you go through life being pleasantly surprised.” – Luke’s philosophy on life, reflecting his cynical but pragmatic outlook.
• Leanne Rease-Jones: “It was an accident.” – The former actress turned medium Leanne is trying to communicate with the ghost in the hotel and this is the response she gets.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $750,000
• Domestic Gross: $78,396
• Worldwide Gross: $1,178,831

💥 The Innkeepers Reviews

Personal Review

I have mixed feelings. The Innkeepers is the kind of movie you watch late at night, hoping for a good scare. It has a slow build-up which is kind of boring but the atmosphere is really well created, making you feel like you’re actually in an old, haunted hotel. It got me a little nervous when they went down to the basement which is probably the scariest place in that hotel.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of slow-burn horror movies”
  • “Viewers who appreciate atmosphere and character development over gore”
  • “Those interested in ghost stories and paranormal investigations”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Supernatural themes”
  • “Brief jump scares”
  • “Claustrophobia”
  • “Discomfort with depictions of death”

Professional Reviews

• At a Theater Near You: “The Innkeepers adheres to the belief that horror movies benefit greatly from slow, almost Hitchcockian cinematic approaches. It’s about craft, namely the ability to generate apprehension in situations where just about nothing happens. This again proves ample talent exists in indie circles.
• Bloody Disgusting: “It is like a work of art, I would like to compare it to a musical symphony, with a perfect crescendo in the end. This is a movie that gets it’s grandieur from the viewer that can manage to appreciate it, and what is so great about this movie is that it gives the viewer a chance to be scared.
• IMDB: “This film is like a work of art, I would like to compare it to a musical symphony, with a perfect crescendo in the end. This is a movie that gets it’s grandieur from the viewer that can manage to appreciate it, and what is so great about this movie is that it gives the viewer a chance to be scared.

Audience Reactions

The spooky atmosphere and realistic characters made this film stand out from other modern horror movies.: Most viewers praised the film’s ability to create tension and suspense without relying on cheap jump scares or gore.

Overall Consensus: The Innkeepers is a polarizing film, praised for its atmosphere, character development, and slow-burn tension, but criticized for its slow pace and ambiguous ending.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The movie was filmed at the actual Yankee Pedlar Inn in Torrington, Connecticut, giving it an authentic and eerie atmosphere.”
• “Director Ti West is known for his slow-burn horror style, focusing on building tension and atmosphere over jump scares and gore.”
• “The Yankee Pedlar Inn, where the film was shot, closed its doors in 2017. It reopened in 2023 after being bought and renovated.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Innkeepers?

Currently, ‘The Innkeepers’ is available for streaming on platforms like AMC+ and Shudder. You can also rent or purchase the movie on demand through services such as Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu. Check your local listings for potential broadcast options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Innkeepers, you might like these similar films:

• The House of the Devil (2009): Also directed by Ti West, known for its slow-burn tension and retro horror feel.
• Session 9 (2001): Features a creepy atmosphere and psychological horror elements in a unique location.
• 1408 (2007): Another haunted hotel story with a focus on psychological scares and a protagonist investigating paranormal events.
• The Shining (1980): Classic haunted hotel story with a slow burn that builds up a great deal of suspense.

🛒 The Innkeepers Related Products

• The Innkeepers [Blu-ray]: Experience the chilling suspense of ‘The Innkeepers’ in stunning high definition. A perfect addition to any horror enthusiast’s collection, providing an immersive viewing experience.
• Haunted Hotel: A Mystery Thriller by Heather Graham: Explore another haunted hotel in this gripping thriller by Heather Graham. Perfect for fans of suspense and the paranormal, offering a new mystery to unravel.
• Ghost Hunting Kit – EMF Reader, Digital Thermometer: Embark on your own paranormal investigations with this comprehensive ghost hunting kit. Includes essential tools for detecting supernatural activity, inspired by the characters in ‘The Innkeepers’.
• Personalized Hotel Key Tag – The Innkeepers Inspired: A unique and quirky gift inspired by The Innkeepers! A retro-style hotel key tag personalized with a name or special message related to the movie, making it a memorable keepsake.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Innkeepers features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Let Me Love You” – performed by Casey Donahew Band

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Innkeepers – Movie Review

Curious what others thought of ‘The Innkeepers’? Paul from CinemaForCynics breaks down what worked and what didn’t in this spooky flick. I personally found his insights spot-on, especially his take on the atmosphere!

MaXXXine Director Ti West Picks His Favorite Shots From X, Pearl, The House of the Devil and More

Ever wonder about the director’s vision behind a movie? Ti West himself walks us through some of his favorite shots from his films, including a scene from ‘The Innkeepers’! His thought process is really interesting – it’s like getting a peek into the director’s mind.

Ti West and Sara Paxton – What’s In My Bag?

Want to get to know the people behind ‘The Innkeepers’ a little better? Watch Ti West and Sara Paxton go shopping and talk about their favorite films and music! It’s a fun, casual look at their tastes and influences, and I think you’ll find it really charming.

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