Shadows and Secrets Behind the Reception Desk

MOVIE REVIEW
The Innkeepers Limited Edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray
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Genre: Horror, Mystery
Year Released: 2011, Second Sight Films 4K UHD/Blu-ray 2025
Runtime: 1h 41m
Director(s): Ti West
Writer(s): Ti West
Cast: Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, Kelly McGillis, George Riddle, Lena Dunham, Brenda Cooney, Alison Bartlett, John Speredakos
Where to Watch: available August 25, 2025, pre-order your copy here: www.secondsightfilms.co.uk

RAVING REVIEW: THE INNKEEPERS is a horror film that refuses to chase the easy scares, instead embracing atmosphere, character depth, and long stretches of unease before unleashing its most frightening moments. Directed and written by Ti West, this 2011 indie film has slowly grown into a cult favorite, largely due to its commitment to being a slow-burning ghost story. Now, with its 2025 release by Second Sight Films, the film has a chance to reach a new generation of viewers who may not have experienced its subtle yet lasting impact upon its initial release.

The setup is deceptively simple: a historic New England inn, the Yankee Pedlar, is about to close its doors for good. Only two employees remain on staff, Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy), who spend their final weekend working the front desk, joking with each other, and half-seriously attempting to confirm rumors that the hotel is haunted. What begins as playful amateur ghost-hunting slowly mutates into a nightmarish descent into fear.

Paxton’s Claire is quirky, likable, and believably naive, a young woman whose enthusiasm and inexperience make her both relatable and vulnerable. Healy’s Luke is the slacker foil, cynical and chaotically funny, who masks his insecurities with sarcasm. Their chemistry is what carries the first half of the film — long before the ghosts make their presence felt, the audience is invested in their relationship and banter. Kelly McGillis adds gravitas as a once-famous actress turned psychic, her world-weary presence giving the film a touch of credibility and ominousness.

West’s directing style is key here. Much like in his earlier film HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, he thrives on long takes, natural dialogue, and an emphasis on environment. The Yankee Pedlar Inn isn’t just a backdrop — it becomes something deeper than you expect. The creaking floors, dimly lit hallways, and furnishings radiate an authentic sense of history. Filmed at the actual inn in Torrington, Connecticut, the location imbues the film with an atmosphere that can’t be faked on a soundstage. It feels lived-in, and that tangibility makes the eventual hauntings all the more unsettling.

What separates THE INNKEEPERS from many ghost films is its deliberate pacing. Some viewers will inevitably find it too slow and even uneventful for much of its runtime. However, that slowness is the point — West is building tension through quiet humor and familiarity before pulling the rug out from under the audience. When the film’s horror finally arrives, it lands harder because of the contrast. Instead of constant jump scares, we’re left dreading every shadow and sound, wondering whether the characters are imagining things or if the legends about Madeline O’Malley, the tragic bride who allegedly haunts the inn, might be horrifyingly real.

From a performance perspective, Paxton’s turn deserves particular credit. She makes Claire’s mixture of nervousness, humor, and terror feel real, especially as her asthma and insecurities make her seem perpetually fragile. Watching her transform from joking desk clerk to believer is where the film finds its beating heart. Healy plays the counterbalance, but his arc — from skeptic to participant — is just as important. McGillis, meanwhile, lends gravity in a smaller but crucial role, giving the film a touch of tragic authority.

For Ti West, THE INNKEEPERS cemented his reputation as a filmmaker who preferred slow-burn suspense to cheap thrills. This style would polarize audiences then and now, but in retrospect, it’s clear how his methodical approach influenced a wave of indie horror that valued tone and character as much as shocks. Watching this film in context with his later successes, X, PEARL, and MAXXXINE, highlights how he has continually balanced genre tradition with personal storytelling.

The newly restored 4K UHD, approved by West, gives the film a richer, sharper look without losing its lo-fi charm. The Limited Edition box set goes the extra mile, featuring a rigid slipcase with striking new artwork, a 120-page book of essays, and a wealth of special features, including new interviews with the cast and crew. For a film that has steadily grown in reputation over the past decade, this release finally gives it the archival respect it deserves.

THE INNKEEPERS is not a film for everyone. Those expecting a fast-paced, scare-a-minute horror will likely walk away frustrated. But for viewers who appreciate a ghost story that lingers, that takes its time to lull you into familiarity before twisting it into dread, this remains one of West’s most effective works. It may not reach the same heights as his later projects, but its charm, atmosphere, and commitment to subtle scares make it a memorable entry in the modern horror genre.

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[photo courtesy of SECOND SIGHT FILMS]

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