Ti West hustled me again. For the first hour it was “Inkeepers is cute, funny, and spooky, in a classic ghost story kind of way!” Awww. Bless my heart. It turned terrifying, gruesome, and tragic, real fast, real good. The movie doesn’t have the cinematic heft of Pearl or House of the Devil, but it’s a necessary and worthwhile notch on your bedpost if you, as I, want to watch all of West’s movies as soon as possible.

The leads, two in-between souls working at an allegedly haunted inn, partly for money after not-finishing college, partly to build up their paranormal website, get in a few more investigations on the inn’s last ever weekend. They find scary things. The two are likable and believable; you feel for the dude, who like/likes the girl, though you’re not sure you want them together. Empathy + ectoplasm. Perfect formula for a solid if tiny bit workmanlike film from a guy who hasn’t failed me yet. ⭐⭐⭐🌗🌑