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.
By allowing time for character development, the creation of atmosphere and building of suspense, and by eschewing gore and saving its big reveal until the end, West has delivered a genuinely involving and disconcerting chiller that’s closer than anything else to a decent 50s B-movie.
The best hotel horror since The Shining is a character piece, a comedy, a love story and a wee- inducer that marks Ti West as one of the most capable genre-wrights around.
Among the current crop of ghost stories, this is an outstanding effort. Ti West is shaping up as an authentic Master Of Horror.
Fanboy bloodlust may not be sated here, but the patient will be rewarded.
The movie never entirely flatlines, and there are some funny touches, but it annoyingly fails to do anything with the kooky situation it elaborately establishes, and there are no real shocks or laughs.
The low to no budget makes the lack of big-bang effects forgiveable, but the dullness is inexcusable.
It has some charm but is quite underwhelming.
The way that West builds tension – through camerawork, pacing and brilliant use of sound – makes for a creepy, classy pleasure, even if the pay-off doesn't match the masterly set-up.
The film is scary enough to keep you alert in the cinema, but unlikely to give you a sleepless night.
The ending is a tad too sudden, but the build-up is the work of a master filmmaker.
Tainted Love: Ti West on his love of horror cinema
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