Hotels and inns, often seen as places of comfort and relaxation, can transform into settings of terror and suspense in the world of horror cinema. This curated list of ten horror films set in hotels and inns offers a unique blend of suspense, supernatural occurrences, and psychological horror, providing a thrilling escape for fans of the genre. Each film brings its own twist to the eerie atmosphere of these isolated locations, making them perfect for a spooky movie night.
The Haunting (1963)
Description: While not exclusively set in a hotel, Hill House functions similarly, with its eerie atmosphere and psychological terror, making it a fitting inclusion in this list.
Fact: The film was remade in 1999 with a different approach to the horror elements.
Watch Now
The Shining (1980)
Description: Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's novel is a masterclass in psychological horror, with the Overlook Hotel becoming a character in its own right, filled with ghostly presences and dark history.
Fact: The film was shot at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon, but the interior scenes were filmed at Elstree Studios in England. Stephen King famously disliked Kubrick's interpretation of his book.
Watch Now
Identity (2003)
Description: A group of strangers are brought together at a remote motel during a storm, only to find themselves trapped in a deadly game of survival.
Fact: The film's twist ending was kept secret from the actors until the last day of shooting.
Watch Now
The Skeleton Key (2005)
Description: A hospice nurse working at a plantation-turned-inn discovers the dark secrets of Hoodoo magic and the house's past.
Fact: The film was shot on location at the Felicity Plantation in Louisiana.
Watch Now
1408 (2007)
Description: Based on Stephen King's short story, this film follows a skeptical writer who checks into the infamous Room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel, only to experience true terror.
Fact: The film was originally planned to be released directly to video, but due to positive test screenings, it received a theatrical release.
Watch Now
Vacancy (2007)
Description: A couple stranded at a remote motel discovers that their room has been set up to record their every move for snuff films.
Fact: The motel used in the film was built specifically for the movie and was later demolished.
Watch Now
The Innkeepers (2011)
Description: Ti West's film focuses on the last remaining employees of the Yankee Pedlar Inn, who decide to investigate the hotel's supposed hauntings during its final days of operation.
Fact: The film was shot in the actual Yankee Pedlar Inn, which is reputed to be haunted.
Watch Now
The Beyond (1981)
Description: This Italian horror film involves a woman who inherits a hotel in Louisiana that sits atop one of the seven gateways to Hell.
Fact: The film is part of Lucio Fulci's "Gates of Hell" trilogy.
30 Days Free
The Lodge (2019)
Description: A soon-to-be stepmother takes her fiancé's children to a remote lodge, where they are cut off from the outside world and begin to experience psychological torment.
Fact: The film was shot in Canada, but the setting is meant to be in the United States.
30 Days Free
The Dark House (2009)
Description: A group of friends spend the night in an abandoned hotel, only to encounter supernatural forces and a dark history.
Fact: The film was released directly to video in the UK.
30 Days Free
