Review | "Haunted Hotel" is absurdly charming
Graphic by Easton Clark, Photography Editor
Netflix’s “Haunted Hotel” doesn’t scream originality. It’s a mix of “Gravity Falls” and “Bob’s Burgers,” but the comforting, nostalgic feelings it provoked had me hooked. I’ve been burned before by shows that cite other popular shows’ creators, but “Haunted Hotel” from Matt Roller of “Rick and Morty” is just what I needed as we transition into fall.
The show follows Katherine (Eliza Coupe) and her two tween-aged kids running a hotel after the death of her brother, Nathan (Will Forte), who’s now a ghost. The hotel harbors hundreds of spirits, portals and demons, including Abaddon (Jimmi Simpson), a demon from hell trapped inside the body of a little boy from the 1700s, who becomes a part of the family.
Katherine is struggling to hold it all together while her kids, Ben (Skyler Gisondo) and Esther (Natalie Palamides), are accustomed to the chaos of their lives and thrive in it. Nathan is passionate about the hotel and his family and Abaddon’s creepy hunger for blood perfectly completes the family dynamic.
What really makes the show is the world it takes place in. In the hotel and surrounding town there’s a never-ending stream of monsters and demons that provide new obstacles, goofy scares and mysteries.
In the first episode, an annoyed Katherine brings in a medium to get rid of all the spirits — only to realize the exorcists had darker plans and the spirits aren’t all that bad. After all, getting rid of the spirits would mean getting rid of her brother. Throughout the season, episodes are grounded in family, similar to shows like “Bob’s Burgers.” The trio of kids go on adventures, try to fit in at school, make friends, navigate middle school crushes and go through puberty.
Ben struggles with his confidence and tries to manage life with his ghost girlfriend. Esther is reminiscent of Louise from “Bob’s Burgers,” a confident wild child who tries to sell mini-monsters to kids at school and investigates monsters within the hotel. Abaddon provides comedic relief while embodying a main theme of the show: What is the purpose of life? Or death?
Many ghosts have unfinished business keeping them in the hotel where they died. Others have a purpose in death and without it, they risk sinking into the Earth’s core. “Haunted Hotel” offers a wholesome approach to non-traditional families' lives. Esther’s scariest moment is watching her mom get back into dating and walking in on a hook-up. Katherine shows the struggles of being a single mom running a hotel and taking your literal demon child to the grocery store.
The show felt lived in. The pace was quick, which paid off the surrealism that sometimes left questions up in the air about the rules of the world. I liked the mystery and unexplained parts that gave the show room to change and take on different stories. While “Haunted Hotel”’s premise and episodes seem predictable, I feel that the familiar feeling makes the show even more endearing. The style fits the show's tone perfectly. It makes for a fun, quick and easy watch. Monsters, ghosts and demons will put you in the Halloween mood.
I enjoyed binging the first season while going about my day and using it to wind down in the evenings. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should you. It has strong characters, clever storylines and satisfying episodes. “Haunted Hotel” balances being a new series and evoking a sense of comfort that leaves you with a nostalgic feeling.
All episodes of “Haunted Hotel” are streaming now on Netflix.
