Cinema Reviews
The Innkeepers 4K Review
Ti West managed something no other horror filmmaker had tried to do since I was about 9 years old. He made me scared. I don’t know if it was the mood I was in, or the wonderfully huge screen I watched The Innkeepers on in Leicester Square in London, or the packed crowd, but this film got me. It had been so long since I actually felt scared watching a film (Thanks largely to being desensitised at way too young an age on the likes of Alien, The Thing, The Omen and a few choice others). I was a kid again and I was terrified and I loved it.
This is all largely down to the director. Ti West’s film was a return to slow build storytelling. This was the first of his films I saw and I was impressed with the fact that it was indeed shot on film, it took its time to build story, it spent time with characters, and then eventually the creeps start to come and it is very effective for doing so.
The Inkeepers follows the work routines of the titular two characters in an old hotel that they presume to be haunted. There are few guests, and even less manners on show as they both start to investigate the history of the building and navigate the guests.
One scene takes place in the cellar of the building where the two main characters sit on the floor facing each other with only a torch to light their faces. This sequence was so effective in building tension, and it’s a scene where you don’t even see anything. No CGI monster, no sudden jump scare ghoul. Nope. Just two actors talking and looking at each other until one of them loses their nerve. This is the kind of tension and chills West delivers with confidence.
And on that note, it is also worth applauding Sara Paxton and Pat Healy (who would go on to make the even more impressive Cheap Thrills a couple of years later) as the leads.
Second Sight have spent quite a bit of time these past couple of years focussing on American independent horror directors, so if you like this release then check out Second Sight’s releases for the likes of The Sacrament (also Ti West), The Guest and You’re Next.
This edition comes with two decent filmmaker commentaries and a pack of new interviews. Ti West likes to talk so he’s all over both commentaries and a new interview. Pat Healy shows up to talk more in-depth about his career. We also hear from the likes of the DoP, the composer, line producer, but the crème de la crème comes from Producer Larry Fessenden whose in-depth working history with the likes of Ti West is fascinating and he doesn’t skimp on details.
It’s another decent set of extras worth every penny.
Steven Hurst
EXTRA FEATURES:
- Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
- New Second Sight Films 4K restoration approved by Director Ti West
- UHD presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
- Audio commentary with Writer/Director/Editor Ti West, Producers Larry Fessenden and Peter Phok, and Sound Designer Graham Reznick
- Audio commentary with Ti West and Actors Sara Paxton and Pat Healy
- A Lasting Memory: a new interview with Ti West
- Let’s Make This Good a new interview with Pat Healy
- Our Dysfunctional World: a new interview with Larry Fessenden
- Living in the Process: a new interview with Director of Photography Eliot Rockett
- Cast a Wide Net: a new interview with Composer Jeff Grace
- A Validating Moment: a new interview with Line Producer Jacob Jaffke
- The Innkeepers: Behind the Scenes
- Trailer
Limited Edition Contents
- Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Nick Charge
- 120-page book with new essays by Becky Darke, Barry Forshaw, Prince Jackson, Craig Ian Mann, Rebecca Sayce and Heather Wixson
- 6 collectors’ art cards
Catalogue number: 2NDBR4257
Certificate: 15
Region: Region Free / B
Language: English
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
The Innkeepers is out on 4K Blu-Ray on August 28th