My first impression of Night at The Eagle Inn (a 70-minute horror/mystery directed by Erik Bloomquist, co-written with brother Carson)? The scene is set by twins Sarah (Amelia Dudley) and Spencer (Taylor Turner). Two characters straight out of a Tim Burton film; their pale faces and haunted, shadowy eyes seemingly suggestive of what awaits, snaring my interest instantly.

More than two decades since their mother died following their premature birth in a remote hotel (their father vanishing at the same time, mysteriously and without trace), they have unanswered questions, and plan to spend the night in that same hotel in hopes of finding closure.

The existing edge of suspicion that something wicked this way comes is accentuated when Spencer enters a gas station and finds it deserted. This insidious feeling of unease is something that doesn’t let up, yet continues to build throughout the film, compelling the viewer to find out what happens next.

At the hotel, the twins are greeted by an intense night manager, who insistently has them sign into the sole remaining room (despite Spencer’s observation that the carpark is empty) by means of a guest book, which he then snatches up possessively and hurries off with, after neglecting to take payment.

From here, we begin to witness the twins’ initial puzzlement descending into a rapidly more nightmarish, hallucinatory hell; glimpses of strange, repetitive behaviour from other guests, static from televisions (even when unplugged) which appears to have a hypnotic effect on both characters and later which begin to transmit disturbing images seemingly directed at the viewer personally, sudden switches from one apparent reality to another (disconcerting viewer and character alike), and objects moving by themselves in haunted house-like fashion, which while to some may seem clichéd did not to me come across as misused or out of place.

There are also references (both visual and verbal) to a number of films even the non-veteran horror fan will recognise with a smile; The Shining, The Ring, and The Twilight Zone to name a few; I feel I even saw shades of American Horror Story creeping in at one point.

Low-budget and filmed entirely on location in Vermont, this latest from Bloomquist (previously unknown to me) has me curious about what his earlier directorial efforts (Long Lost, Ten Minutes to Midnight, among others) have to offer.

For me, Night at The Eagle Inn is a winner; the pervasive, surreal quality underlined by a growing sense of dread is delivered in such a way as to hold the viewer’s attention throughout, despite one or two slightly predictable moments. It’s all about the journey, which is supremely creepy and seriously disorientating with some darkly funny moments and snippy dialogue (much of which presented by the excellent Taylor Turner).

8 out of 10