Non-identical twins Spencer (Taylor Turner) and Sarah (Ameilia Dudley) are determined to investigate the disappearance of their father, who went missing on the day that they were born. The last place he was seen was the Eagle Inn, which is now run down and apparently haunted. The pair want to find out more about where they came from – they grew up in foster homes – and head to the Inn to attempt to get the bottom of things, documenting everything into a hand-held recorder. They find the Inn appears to have not changed since their mother gave birth to them there (and which caused her death). The manager (Greg Schweers) is helpful enough but it’s clear the place doesn’t get many visitors. Even though there is only one room available, there are no other guests. The enigmatic janitor (Beau Minniear) takes a shine to both of them too, but is unable to fix the television, which appears to be a window into the lives of the previous patrons of the Inn.
Night at Eagle Inn is co-written and directed by Erik Bloomquist (Ten Minutes to Midnight) and plays wonderfully into the mood of other haunted hotel films (it leans more to The Innkeepers than The Shining with the dialogue-heavy dynamic of the leads) and it doesn’t skimp on the scares. The interaction between Spencer and Sarah is natural and features many knowing nods to cinematic and televisual creepy tropes. This is handled well, without disappearing as far up itself as American Horror Story does at times. Taylor and Dudley are fantastic as the twins, both of them possessing a quirky quality and unique looks.
Thomson Nguyen’s cinematography makes the most of the limited location and enhances the grim atmosphere of the Inn. Tension is built up nicely and despite the film coming in at a swift 70 minutes, never feels rushed. Bloomquist once again shows that indie cinema can compete with the big boys when it comes to scares.
Night at the Eagle Inn is out now in the US.
