The Innkeepers (2011)

Director:

Ti West

Writer:

Ti West (writer)

Release Date:

29 March 2012 (Russia)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Some guests never check out.

Plot:

During the final days at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, two employees determined to reveal the hotel's haunted past begin to experience disturbing events as old guests check in for a stay. |

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Inn | Hotel Room | Dead Body In Bathtub | Drinking

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Sara Paxton	...	Claire
Pat Healy	...	Luke
Alison Bartlett	...	Gayle, Angry Mom
Jake Ryan	...	Boy (as Jake Schlueter)
Kelly McGillis	...	Leanne Rease-Jones
Lena Dunham	...	Barista
George Riddle	...	Old Man
Brenda Cooney	...	Madeline O'Malley
John Speredakos	...	Officer Mitchell
Sean Reid	...	Medic
Kurt Venghaus	...	Medic
Thomas Mahoney	...	Medic
Michael Martin	...	Medic
Michael P. Castelli	...	Medic

Directed by
Ti West

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ti West		writer

Produced by
Badie Ali	....	executive producer
Hamza Ali	....	executive producer
Malik B. Ali	....	executive producer
Derek Curl	....	producer
Larry Fessenden	....	producer
Jacob Jaffke	....	line producer
Greg Newman	....	executive producer
Peter Phok	....	producer
Ti West	....	producer

Original Music by
Jeff Grace

Cinematography by
Eliot Rockett		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ti West

Casting by
Lisa Fields

Production Design by
Jade Healy

Art Direction by
Scott Kuzio

Set Decoration by
Chris Trujillo

Costume Design by
Liz Vastola		(as Elisabeth Vastola)

Makeup Department
Jennifer Hauck	....	makeup intern
Brenna McGuire	....	key make up & hair
Brian Spears	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Jacob Jaffke	....	production manager
Peter Phok	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Isabel Escobar	....	second second assistant director
Kim Koby	....	first assistant director
Christopher Menges	....	second assistant director
Graham Reznick	....	second unit director

Art Department
Stephen Caputo	....	scenic artist
Nicole Heffron	....	scenic artist
Tim Linden	....	property master
Ian Salter	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Shaun Brennan	....	foley artist
Tom Efinger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Efinger	....	sound supervisor
Eric Gitelson	....	dialogue editor
Eric Gitelson	....	foley engineer
Jack Hutson	....	production sound mixer
Graham Reznick	....	sound designer
Graham Reznick	....	sound supervisor
Jeff Seelye	....	sound editor

Visual Effects by
Micah Gallo	....	digital intermediate executive producer
Tyler A. Hawes	....	digital intermediate colorist: Lit Post
John C. Loughlin	....	visual effects supervisor
Gustavo Mendes	....	digital intermediate conform editor: Lit Post
Scott Purdy	....	digital intermediate producer: Lit Post
Geno Tazioli	....	account executive: Lit Post

Stunts
Jared Burke	....	stunt rigger
Abby Nelson	....	stunt double: Sara Paxton
Anthony Vincent	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Joe Anderson	....	first assistant camera
Ash Bhalla	....	grip
Nick D'Agostino	....	electrician
Andrew Engert	....	best boy electric
Samuel Herbig	....	electrician
Bruce Jones	....	grip
Mark Koenig	....	gaffer
Ian McAlpin	....	assistant camera
Jim McGibbon	....	third grip
Michael Mortell	....	best boy electric
John Moustakas	....	grip
Megan Nole	....	electrician
Jeff Peixoto	....	film loader
Miranda Rhyne	....	electrician
Ari Robbins	....	steadicam operator
Eric Scherbarth	....	still photographer
John Shim	....	key grip
Walter Strafford	....	electrician
Matt Tomko	....	best boy grip
G.T. Womack	....	second assistant camera
Brian Yost	....	grip

Casting Department
John Barba	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amanda Williams	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Thomas Centrone	....	dailies film colorist
Daniel Martens	....	assistant editor
Chad Schermerhorn	....	dailies assistant

Music Department
Tom Chiu	....	musician: violin
Dave Eggar	....	musician: cello
Adriana Grace	....	music preparation
Jeff Grace	....	orchestrator
Marguerite Phillips	....	music supervisor
Joshua Tidsbury	....	score mixer

Other crew
Matt Arena	....	set intern
Richard Buttafuso	....	caterer
Becky Di Lallo	....	production coordinator
Patrick Eaton	....	key production assistant
Eric S. Eichelberg	....	additional production assistant
Jonathan Follo	....	set intern
Rachael Gillson	....	production intern
Will Gottlieb	....	production assistant
Paul Hammond	....	commentary
Jessica Jaffke	....	craft service
Steven Julien	....	production assistant
John D. Lanza	....	accountant: Connecticut
Laurie McBride	....	accountant: Connecticut
Glenn McQuaid	....	title designer
Christopher Menges	....	location manager
Michael Miles	....	production assistant: first team
Darin Quan	....	additional production assistant
Courtney Schade	....	commentary coordinator
Mike Schleifer	....	set intern
Julia Tasker	....	script supervisor
Michael Vincent	....	production assistant
Michael Williams	....	film clearances
Justin Wilson	....	production assistant
Lisa Wisely	....	business affairs: Glass Eye Pix

Thanks
Ozzy Alvarez	....	special thanks
Dori Begley	....	special thanks
Matt Burgerhoff	....	special thanks
John Carchietta	....	special thanks
Matt Cowal	....	special thanks
Dan DeFilippo	....	special thanks
Bo Derek	....	special thanks
Adriana Grace	....	special thanks
Jesse Hoy	....	special thanks
Daphne Javitch	....	special thanks
Brent Kunkle	....	special thanks
Joshua Leonard	....	special thanks
Dave Marken	....	special thanks
Glenn McQuaid	....	special thanks
TJ Nordaker	....	special thanks
John Norris	....	special thanks
Angus Scrimm	....	special thanks
Joe Swanberg	....	special thanks
Lisa Wisely	....	special thanks
Gary Woina	....	special thanks
Patrick M. Wood	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Dark Sky Films (presents)
• Glass Eye Pix

Distributors

• Magnet Releasing (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinemax (2013) (Hungary) (TV)
• MPI Media Group (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• Transformer (2012) (Japan) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Abel Cine Tech  camera equipment provided by
• Gotham Sound and Communications  walkies provided by (as Gotham Sound)
• Lit Post  post-production
• MovieScore Media  soundtrack
• Post Haste Sound  commentary recording engineering

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some bloody images and language

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG13 | Mexico:B15 | UK:15 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Company:

Dark Sky Films

Trivia:

The movie is filmed at the actual Yankee Pedlar Inn, in Torrington, Connecticut.

Quotes:

Claire:Never skimp on bread; you'll always regret it.

Movie Connections:

Features Solitaire (1981) (VG)

A Simultaneously Old-Fashioned and Tongue-in-Cheek Deconstruction

Welcome to the Yankee Pedlar Inn, current residency: five. Living, that is. Tasked with minding the 100-year-old establishment the weekend prior to it shutting its doors for good, employees Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy) find that besides the lone, mysterious woman (Kelly McGillis) and mother/son duo that populate the creaky old domicile, something more sinister lurks.

From 31-year-old director Ti West, who in 2010 directed the wonderfully retro The House of the Devil, comes The Innkeepers, a simultaneously old-fashioned (and unabashedly so) and tongue-in-cheek deconstruction of overused genre clichés such as "the boo moment." But that isn't to say The Innkeepers doesn't embrace these staples with equal affection, and eventually utilizes them wonderfully (and with ample flair) as things escalate toward the chilling final act.

What initially distinguishes this supernatural thriller from others of its kind is that the first third of the film offers barely a hint that this is a horror movie. Sure, nobody would be mistaken that this wasn't a fright flick, but the debut act is more concerned with the character development of Claire and Luke and showing the simply the mundane nature of running a practically (excuse the wording) dead business. These scenes are punctuated with silver-tongued dialogue that would make Sorkin or Tarantino smile. Not to say that West's script is on the same level, but it is certainly akin to that style and speed of exchange.

This is essentially a three-man show (though to be more accurate a two- woman and one-man show) led by the wonderful Paxton. She exudes a down-to-earth sexiness and plays Claire as a bit of an oddball but with a magnetic spark, a performance that couldn't have been more different than her work in last fall's Shark Night 3D. This proves she is a legitimate talent to watch and can hold her own when she is only required to emote through silence.

Healy is also great as Luke, who is even more of a nerdy outcast than his co-worker. He passes his time on the graveyard shift by watching porn and working on his paranormal-themed website. He has a great, easy chemistry with Paxton throughout.

The last remaining piece of the character trifecta comes from McGillis' Leanne, a former television star who has since turned to the profession of medium. She goes great work as more complex "Crazy Ralph" character though her inclusion at all lacks any real necessity, only to point out the ominous.

The Innkeepers has clever, underlying elements from the "are they crazy or not?" horror movie structure, and though there is never a doubt of certain characters' sanity, questions are certainly posed as to the truths behind what transpired. West's flick also has a clever foil to the normally dopey (and often infuriating) cliché of what I shall now refer to as the "door paradox": when stuff goes poltergeist-style crazy, use it! You see these characters unwillingly provoke the dark history of the inn, determined to capture some proof of paranormal infestation before it closes for good. The bumps in the night only spur them further (especially Claire) right into the finale, which finds her way over her pretty blond head.

A lack of gore and a very deliberate pace may dissuade those accustomed to the quick-cut, bloody flashiness of mainstream offerings, but this movie again proves ample talent exists in indie circles. Overall very humorous as its pokes and prods at the genre, there is a sense of solemn irony as the credits role. It is not a depressing finale, nor is it a disturbing one; I would simply peg it as especially fitting. A great score and a definite '70s vibe (far from as intentionally apparent as it was in The House of the Devil, which was in fact set in the 1970s) allows The Innkeepers to rise above recent horror offerings. At the very least, this is a passionate and noteworthy salute to the origins of the modern-day horror flick.