LAFF 2011 Movies Reviews: THE INNKEEPERS and HAUNTERS
An interesting category at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival is “The Beyond,” which features a combination scary/fantastic/horror type movies. I ended up seeing two films that were part of it and wanted to share a few thoughts on them: The Innkeepers and Haunters.
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The Innkeepers
Synopsis: After over one hundred years of service, The Yankee Pedlar Inn is shutting its doors for good. The last remaining employees – Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy)- are determined to uncover proof of what many believe to be one of New England’s most haunted hotels. As the Inn’s final days draw near, odd guests check in as the pair of minimum wage “ghost hunters” begin to experience strange and alarming events that may ultimately cause them to be mere footnotes in the hotel’s long unexplained history.
Thoughts:: This was one was just OK for me.
I enjoyed the acting a lot. Sara Paxton needs to be given more roles where she can display her comedic chops as she was simply delightful in her role as Claire, a sweet and naive clerk who is trying to prove that there is a ghost in the hotel she works at. Pat Healy was extremely believable as the somewhat aloof yet engaged internet geek who is trying to impress the girl and be cool with his 90’s website. These two were responsible for a lot of the hilarious moments in the movie.
Unfortunately, the acting was not on par with the story. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t hate the story; I just wasn’t blown away by it. I usually let weak plot points or unnecessary scenes slide when there is a payoff at the end but unfortunately there wasn’t one. The end felt rushed and was ultimately unoriginal.
Still, I would recommend this movie to any horror fan, who enjoy haunted house movies and clerks. It is not the best movie you will ever see but it will entertain you, at least up until the end.
Favorite moment: When Claire (Sara Paxton) opens the door to the cellar for the first time, her reaction to what ensues was the funniest moment of the movie. Made me laugh uncontrollably for several minutes
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Haunters
Synopsis: HE has the power to control other people’s minds just by looking at their eyes. Gyu-nam is an ordinary worker at pawn bank, who loves his job. During HE’s routine pawn bank robbery, HE found out that Gyu-nam is the only man who HE cannot control! After HE ruined everything Gyu-nam loves, Gyu-nam decides to do the revenge of his life. Now the greatest showdown begins and the both men’s lives change forever.
Thoughts: What would happen if after spending years having an amazing super power and abusing it for your own personal gain, you met the only person whom you couldn’t control? What would you do? By far one of my favorite movie of the Los Angeles Film Festival, Haunters provides a subtle yet intense response to that question.
It was like watching a real dark and edgy graphic novel come to life. With amazing shots and brilliant acting, the movie manages to deliver an entertaining, action packed and concept defying piece of work that will blow your mind.
Simply amazing! I would pay good money to see a sequel or an awesome remake.
Favorite moment: When the hero is trying to reach his nemesis, he is prevented from advancing by a pile of humans controlled by the nemesis, who are restraining him from advancing. Freaking awesome.
You can watch the trailer of “Haunters” below.
