“Some authentic country rustic. When’s the whittlin’ start?”

Justin’s rating: Whittlin’ hour is three o’clock in these here parts

Justin’s review: I’ve developed a healthy fear of travel thanks to horror stories. I know that the odds are significantly high that if I step out my front door, I’ll end up getting lost and taking refuge in a haunted house or jinxed train station or a hillbilly cannibal convention. So why risk it? “Just stay home and watch other fools head off to their deaths” is my motto.

And here come three fools right now, as a matter of fact. Jenny, Marty, and Chrissy are three snowmobilers zipping around the snow-capped Rocky Mountains (without spare fuel tanks, I noticed) and ultimately getting trapped by a blizzard. Their only hope is a seemingly deserted lodge — one that happens to house a deadly secret.

The only one who isn’t eager to explore where angels fear to tread is Jenny, and it’s no surprise that she’s our Final Girl here. She alone heeded the shopkeeper’s ominous warnings, so that gives her some cache to make it through New Year’s Evel. And if that’s not enough in the way of premonitions, there’s some obvious symbolism that the stark white outdoors represents freedom and escape (or a jailor?) while the dim, murky interior hides nothing but horror and death.

Inside the lodge is an older lady who’s clearly off her rocker — and, what’s worse, is that she’s got a couple off-brand kids floating around the place. And this lodge may not be the Overlook, but it clearly isn’t fit for normal humans to inhabit. Of course, you take any hotel and remove all the people and it’s going to be freaky by default. Trust me, you’ll be yelling at these idiots to get out there long before they realize that they’ve stepped into some place that really should be left alone.

It’s probably too late by the time that the old witch introduces herself by biting (!) Marty and glaring “I’m going to murder you” eyes. And before long, the flirty Chrissy has disappeared, Jenny is drugged, and Marty finds his sanity slipping away. Serves him right — he’s a smarmy jerk who treats everyone around him like they’re his emotional chattel.

Ghostkeeper is an early (and somewhat obscure) Canadian entry into the slasher genre, having more in common with The Shining and Texas Chainsaw Massacre than Freddy and Jason. And despite its name, it doesn’t really have any ghosts, just a monster that may or may not be a windigo but definitely doesn’t want to leave its closet.

As imperfect as this is, Ghostkeeper develops a genuinely creepy vibe that sticks with you. Seeing characters move through pitch-black hallways with nothing but a dim lantern illuminating their faces is arresting to the imagination. I see it as an example of a can-do indie spirit, especially considering that the filmmakers raced to finish the production even as funds dried up. Despite producing something quite rough around the edges, the team also managed to seize something authentically spooky, like a good old-fashioned campfire tale. That makes it even more unfortunate that the back half of the movie suffers as everyone raced to finish it without the proper resources.

This film’s built up a reputation for being a strangely wonderful little find. “Wonderful” might be too strong, actually, but it certainly feels unique. If you like going off the beaten path — like these three here — then you might find this waiting at the end of the road.

Intermission!

• Wendigos are ghosts that live on human flesh
• Why you being such a jerk to this shopkeeper?
• Mountains can’t be dangerous, they’re beautiful!
• Nobody’s checked in for five years
• It’s so warm in there that you can see everyone’s breath…?
• Eyes in the closet is super duper freaky
• Chrissy has aspirations of being a prostitute?
• When an old lady bites you, it’s probably time to leave
• Those lanterns are really cool
• “You’ve got to be tough to handle this job.”
• You knew that sooner or later, someone with a chainsaw would be chasing people around
• That’s one huge attic
• The lady’s son looks like a really nice normal Canadian guy they hired with a box of Timbits
• Marty doesn’t understand what “self defense” means
• Mom really doesn’t seem that upset her son just got killed
• Or maybe not, she just blew up that snowmobile
• Marty likes to smear his face with grease streaks for some reason
• Maybe you should shut up about the gun in the closet and simply go get it?
• Jenny starts talking about herself in the third person, that’s not a good sign