Ghostkeeper (Aka Ghost Keeper) (1981)

Director: Jim Makichuk

Starring: Riva Spier, Murray Ord, Sheri McFadden

Three friends on a New Year’s Eve snowmobiling excursion find themselves stranded at an abandoned lodge where the elderly female innkeeper is concealing a sinister secret.

In the Indian legends of North America, there exists a creature called Windigo – a ghost who lives on human flesh.

Jenny, Marty and Chrissie are vacationing in the Rocky Mountains. Whilst snowmobiling they stumble upon a seemingly abandoned Lodge. With one of their snowmobiles out of action and a blizzard upon them, they decide to spend the night at the lodge.

After a night of relaxing in front of a fire, they encounter a mysterious woman (who is never named), who might or might not be the caretaker. She tells them her two sons are roaming somewhere, but they don’t believe her.

Jenny and Marty appears to be a couple, but from their arguments it seems they’re not. Lets just say their relationship seems complicated. Stranded at the lodge, they soon find themselves fighting for their lives as the woman and her son turns on them. The Windigo, as mentioned in the beginning of the film, is locked in a freezer and looked after by the woman, but he adds very little to the film and certainly doesn’t cut it as an antagonist.

Marty was a likeable character throughout the movie, and therefore couldn’t understand his sudden shift in character during the third act – with no explanation. Jenny, too, suddenly acted very differently. If they were possessed, when did this happen and – if so – why was it off screen? And possessed by what?

I found the acting surprisingly good. The film is very slow, though. At first I thought it was effective in building suspense, but the film remained slow almost until the third act…when the film completely fell apart. I can’t say I liked the ending. With very little making sense in fact, I can’t recommend it.

I can’t help but think the premise for the 2006 Norwegian film ‘Cold Prey’ was based on ‘Ghostkeeper’. Only, ‘Cold Prey’ is a much better film, so do yourself a favour and check that out.

Would I watch it again? No.