When The House of the Devil hit the festival circuit–leading up to a limited theatrical run–in 2009, Ti West established himself as a horror director to watch. Though not his first project, The House of the Devil hit a sweet spot: film nerds and critics loved his movie, but so did genre aficionados. West beautifully crafted a picture that paid homage to the Satanic Panic flicks of the 80s while also establishing a knack for building tension and dread with slow-burn storytelling and a clear directorial point-of-view.
Fast forward to 2011: West’s new film, The Innkeepers, is currently available on-demand through your cable provider or Amazon Instant Video. Though his new feature finds him in familiar territory (limited setting, small cast), The Innkeepers stands on its own merits. Continue reading