Hotels are creepy places. From five star luxury establishments to the seedy rundown motel down the road they all have the same things in common. They’re a temporary place. A liminal place on your point from one destination to the other. Many people have stayed in that same room. Loved, argued, and died there. No matter how luxurious they are they are impersonal, temporary places.
Below is the Kali Krew’s list of Horrific Hotels in books, movies, games and even a couple of songs.
Let me hand you this pen and let’s get you checked in. Oh, the ink? Rather red, is it not. Just go ahead and sign your name. We’ll be sure to take care of you satisfactorily.
This week’s list was suggested by JB Rockwell!
BOOKS
The Devil’s Dreamland by Sarah Tantlinger
Chosen by Gracie
Check out Gracie’s review of The Devil’s Dreamland
The Hungry Ones by Chris Sorenson
Chosen by Tracy
Check out Tracy’s review The Hungry Ones
The Nightly Disease by Max Booth III
Chosen by Brian
Prince of Nightmares by John McNee
Chosen by Lilyn
Check out Lilyn’s review Prince of Nightmares
The Summer Job by Adam Cesare
Chosen by Tracy
The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James
Chosen by Gracie
MOVIES
1408
Chosen by Gracie and Tracy
American Horror Story: Hotel
Chosen by Tracy
Bad Times at the El Royale
Chosen by JB Rockwell
Bates Motel
Chosen by Tracy
Black Mirror: Crocodile
Chosen by Tracy
Hostel
Chosen by Olly
Hotel Artemis
Chosen by JB Rockwell
Identity
Chosen by Shawn
Psycho
Chosen by Sam
The Shining
Chosen by Tracy
Vacancy
Chosen by JB Rockwell
Songs and Games
Hotel California by The Eagles
Chosen by Bill
“Last thing I remember
I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
“Relax”, said the night man
“We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave”
Room 24 by Volbeat
Chosen by Gracie
“See the old hag sitting over me
The smell of rotten breath and blasphemy
No way out only darkness here
Feel my eyes filling up with fear
Will someone hear me crying out for help in room 24
In room 24, in room 24″
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
Chosen by Gracie
Rusty Lake Hotel
Chosen by Gracie
Thank you for visiting our fine establishment of Sci-Fi and Scary. We hope our services have been to your satisfaction. Here, we’ve got you checked in. Have a nice stay and sleep well…if you can. Please do leave a comment in our guest book about your stay here. If you have any suggestions regarding other hotels, please, let us know. We would be very happy to hear about them.
GracieKat was the first co-host of Sci-Fi & Scary, Lilyn’s partner-in-crime, and sub-head of the Kali Krew. She reviews horror books, movies, and games for the site. She also does a weekly Focus on the Frightful feature, and is the site list-maker. She is also in control of the Sci-Fi & Scary podcast which will relaunch soon.
Ooooh, I love this list! I never get tired of a spooky hotel setting. And hell yes to the Rusty Lake Hotel recommendation – I loved that game!
Two come to mind: the Gilman House in Innsmouth, featuring human-DeepOne hybrids stalking our narrator, in H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Shadow Over Innsmouth;” and “Cabin 33,” which sort of qualifies (as a cabin at a resort hotel), in a vampire story written by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro in 1980.
I can’t believe I didn’t think of the Innsmouth one! I also just listened to Room 13 by M.R. James but I didn’t even think of it for the list. I did consider the movie Horror Hotel but cut it in favour of the song Room 24
Argh! I glanced at my M.R. James volumes before I wrote my comment, but didn’t open them! So I missed “Room 13.” Sigh.
Not sure the lyrics fit, but I love Chris Isaaks’s ‘Blue Hotel’.
I’ll have to check that song out, thank you!