Ti West

CHICAGO – The irony of Dallas Richard Hallam and Patrick Horvath’s immensely unsettling little shocker, “Entrance,” is that it has caused many viewers to exit before the end credits have rolled. A surprising number of critics have complained that the film betrays its audience by setting up a low-key indie drama and then turning the tables in the final act. Clearly, these people weren’t paying attention.

CHICAGO – In a mere four-year span, New York actress/filmmaker Sophia Takal has sported a remarkable versatility. Since 2009, she’s acted in ten feature films and is set to star in many more. Her first lead role was the titular heroine in Lawrence Michael Levine’s 2010 gem, “Gabi on the Roof in July.” Takal and Levine’s offscreen status as a couple enhanced the chemistry between their characters, siblings Gabi and Sam.

CHICAGO – Ti West’s “The Innkeepers” is one of the most divisive films of the year, a love-it-or-hate-it affair — my favorite kind of movie. I see both sides. I get how the slow burn doesn’t work for some people (and, honestly, it didn’t really work for me in West’s “House of the Devil”) and I get how modern horror fans might be upset at the lack of a sure payoff in this ghost story.

CHICAGO – Ti West’s “The Innkeepers” is one of the most effective horror movies of the last several years, a true gem of the genre that reminds a scary movie junkie like myself why I fell in love with them in the first place.

CHICAGO – Director Ti West has formulated a career re-imagining some of the scare tactics used in the classic horror films of the late 1970s and early ‘80s. His deliberately paced style created a frightening “House of the Devil” in 2009, and now he’s back with up-and-coming Sara Paxton for “The Innkeepers.”

CHICAGO – In our latest horror/thriller edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of “The Innkeepers” starring Sara Paxton from “The House of the Devil” director Ti West!

CHICAGO – Horror fans heard the buzz surrounding “Cabin Fever” for months before it came out and the film launched Mr. Eli Roth to the “Hostel” films and even a role in the multiple Oscar nominee “Inglourious Basterds”. That film has now been released on Blu-ray to coincide with its straight-to-DVD sequel “Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever,” itself directed by an already-acclaimed new horror director, “House of the Devil“‘s Ti West.

CHICAGO – Ti West’s “House of the Devil” became arguably the most buzzed horror film of 2009 not named “Paranormal Activity” with universal critical acclaim and even a spot on a few top ten lists at the end of the year. Most movie goers didn’t get a chance to catch it in theaters, but it will have a huge shelf life on DVD and Blu-ray.

CHICAGO – Halloween is the perfect time to revisit those horror films of youth, lost in the mall theaters or crackling through the VCR in a multiply rented copy. “The House of the Devil” reveres those roots and brings them back to light.

CHICAGO – In our latest horror edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of “The House of the Devil”!