1 of 2 posters for Ti West’s The Innkeepers. I did a bunch of concepts and 2 where selected, this one was done as an extra because Ti and Larry Fessenden liked the concept so much.

The setting for The Innkeepers is based on the history of the ‘ Yankee Pedlar Inn’ a Victorian hotel which is actually in the film. So I dug into all things Victorian for the designs visual research and I came across designs for these ornate key hole protectors, they where Incredibly elaborate with flowing and curling ‘fleur’ details which i thought also had a real sinister edge. Something I felt could nicely be worked into a design in the more minimal tone of 70’s Thriller posters.

I reworked the keyhole designs to create something that almost felt like clawing hands, which would grab you and pull you into the darkness of the key hole if you stared at it too long.