"Stake Land" vs. "The Innkeepers"

[BakuryuuTyranno]

Couldn't help but write this topic, though aside from their production company and being atypical horror, they have little similarity.

"Stake Land" essentially uses its more traditional horror as a backdrop, its main storyline being the emotional aspects of the characters travelling through this world.

"The Innkeepers" is basically the opposite - based on and made within a creepy building, its main focus being to share that creeped out feeling with the audience, with the plot and characters existing to provide shape for this emotion.

"Stake Land" features ruthless antagonists who commit acts that sometimes go further than most movie bad guys, for example, killing infants. Often quite gory.

"The Innkeepers" is ambiguous as to whether the hotel is haunted at all, trying to remain plausible which makes sense considering its about an actual inn with a character(s) based on actual staff members (definitely Healy's character, and quite probably Paxton's). Providing a prominent antagonist would also undermine the creepiness of the building itself which would render the film pointless.

Personnally I preferred "The Innkeepers", though I consider both films good, but "Innkeepers" characters seemed less expendable than most horror films' casts and I preferred the atmosphere.

For anyone else who's watched both, which would you consider more enjoyable?

[indianasmith]

I thouroughly enjoyed the over the top craziness of STAKELAND, while THE INKEEPERS tried very hard to be good and wound up just being boring and frustrating to me.

[Mr_Vindictive]

I have yet to see Stakeland, despite wanting to quite badly.

I really enjoyed Innkeepers.  Ti West has a knack for putting together great little atmospheric horror films.  Look at House of the Devil to see exactly what I mean!

[Amanda]

I have to go with Stake Land here.  I was looking forward to The Innkeepers, but found myself really bored by it.  Granted, I was tired as hell, and should probably give it another, well rested go, but....yeah.  Stake Land was kind of refreshing.  Nothing really romanticized about the vampires.