In the land of low-budget thriller and horror movies, Hotel Dunsmuir has its place. A creepy opening with a slightly 1970s feel, with a harp plucking humming in the background means the film is off to a good start. However, it takes some time for writer-director Michael Zaiko Hall to hit his stride. Set in the high mountains of the West, in Fishlake National Forest in Utah, we learn that Hotel Dunsmuir is 726 miles away, which is neither here nor there for a factoid for the film.
We meet Billie (Jet Jandreau) and Luke (Jose Rosete), who are glassing for a hunt. Billie appears to be quiet and connected to a light orb moving around the air with a beacon effect, while Luke watches a mama bear and her cubs. They seem to be soaking in nature as enormous clouds that look like a giant smoke plume pass in the sky. What initially seems normal quickly shifts with Billie and Luke inside a doublewide trailer home. Luke is drinking from a faucet and talking about scouting for hunting season while bacon sizzles. Immediately, it’s clear Billie is a captive in a marriage where she’s not allowed to wear certain clothes, is forced to be filmed naked, and has to call Luke her daddy.
The dialogue is creepy and simple, with fake punches and laughs. Billie is odd, and the light orb continues to appear. She wants her grandmother, Maddy (Susie Boyd), in Castle Rock, Washington, 1,233 miles away, whom Luke despises. Luke’s abusive red neck behavior leads to Billie getting a beating, which makes her grab his money and run to Maddy. Stealing Luke’s truck, she makes her way to Hotel Dunsmuir. Along the way, Billie is freaking out with mind flashes and becomes road weary. Up to this point, the film moves slowly, and the dialogue is short and uninteresting.
“Billie is a captive in a marriage where she’s not allowed to wear certain clothes…”
However, once at Hotel Dunsmuir, the horror begins with The Maid, who kills, and Ruby (Amber Gaston), a zombie-like housekeeper who bonds with Billie. The Maid is part of the hotel’s history as a sick serial killer, and with experimental editing and images, it adds interest to the film’s plot, which is mostly a road movie. Eventually, Billie arrives at her grandmother’s, where Luke is waiting, and her grandmother has set up an altar for his demise. Billie and Maddy share a supernatural power, which has led Billie to Ruby and perhaps to this situation.
Hotel Dunsmuir features several dead ends and odd connections among its characters that feel less suspenseful than they might have been intended to be. However, Billie’s character develops quickly, making her dialogue and performance engaging, while Ruby is not fully evolved, she’s necessary to tie up loose ends and looks the part of a horror character. And Luke’s demise for his character is very strange indeed.
Hotel Dunsmuir has a quirky vibe that evokes The Shining, with subtle references to the classic horror film. Old photos are mixed with new ones, and some well-recreated footage is used during suspenseful moments, effectively building tension. The film features interesting locations and a classic horror soundtrack; perhaps another round of scriptwriting could have elevated this story, which definitely has some bones.
"…a quirky vibe that evokes The Shining, with subtle references to the classic horror film."
