Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy the Mail Girl leaned into classic spooky season comfort with a Haunted House themed episode of The Last Drive In, pairing House on Haunted Hill (1959) with The Innkeepers (2011). On paper, this is a smart double feature. One is a horror relic built on gimmicks and personality, the other a modern slow-burning ghost story that lives and dies on mood and vibes. In execution, the night mostly works, but not without some drag.

This was a quieter episode overall. No guests, no gimmicks, no games. Just Joe Bob doing what he does best, contextualizing horror history, and Darcy keeping things grounded and lively. When the movies cooperate, that approach shines.

House on Haunted Hill Is Pure Drive-In Nostalgia

House On Haunted Hill

House on Haunted Hill is exactly the kind of movie The Last Drive In was built for. Vincent Price carries the entire thing on charm alone, chewing scenery and winking at the audience just enough to sell the ride. The movie is creaky, fake, and openly theatrical, but that is the point. It is a carnival attraction masquerading as a horror film.

Joe Bob’s discussion of William Castle gimmicks and mid-century horror exhibition was the highlight of the night. This is where the hosted format thrives. Without that context, the movie is a fun novelty. With it, the film becomes a snapshot of how horror once fought for attention in a crowded theatrical market.

It is not scary, it is not deep, but it is endlessly watchable. Price alone makes it worth the price of admission, and the first half of the episode flies by because of it.

The Innkeepers Is All Atmosphere And Patience

The Inkeepers

The Innkeepers is a very different beast. Ti West’s ghost story (is it a haunted house, or a haunted hotel?) is quiet, deliberate, and unapologetically slow. It spends most of its runtime building unease through empty hallways, awkward conversations, and long stretches where nothing happens. There’s also Lena Dunham, who is a bit of a problematic figure these days and is very focal in this movie.

Watching it in a live-hosted setting is a gamble. The atmosphere is strong, but the momentum is not. Stretching an already restrained film across a multi-hour episode exposes its thinness. There are good performances and a genuinely creepy final act, but getting there feels like work.

This is not a bad movie, but it is a demanding one; and the back half of the episode drags hard because of it.

Conclusion

The Haunted House double feature is a tale of two speeds. House on Haunted Hill is breezy, charismatic, and perfectly suited to the Drive-In format. The Innkeepers is moody and effective, but overstays its welcome in this context.

This is a good episode, not a great one. It plays better as comfort viewing than must-see television. When it hits, it hits. When it slows down, you feel every minute.

The Last Drive In with Joe Bob Briggs streams live on Shudder on the first Friday of every month at 6 PM PST and 9 PM EST with episodes available on Sunday.

For more Reviews, make sure to check back to That Hashtag Show.

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