In this low‑budget paranormal thriller, five friends—Megan (Chalie Howes), Kyle, Spencer, Rachel, and Corey—find themselves stranded after an RV crash and decide to spend the night at a mysterious roadside motel. Soon, they discover the spot harbors dark secrets tied to a tragic past and the ghostly presence of Angela, a young girl who once died there
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Eerie premise with ritualistic haunting: The story connects each character to past sins that mirror the motel's tragic history, giving a supernatural guilt-driven twist .
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Creepy child apparition: Angela, the little girl ghost, is strikingly effective—sparing on dialogue but delivering lingering chills .
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Ambitious tone: Despite budget constraints, the director clearly aimed for psychological dread rather than gore, lending the film some atmospheric tension
The film takes too long to build momentum—nearly 45 minutes pass before significant events unfold—and the early setup drags .
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Wooden characters and dialogue: The cabin‑in‑the‑woods archetypes feel flat. One reviewer notes characters seldom react to deaths in a believable way—and they wander aimlessly through the motel
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Lackluster production design: Dark, indistinct sets make it difficult to grasp the environment, weakening the sense of place and creepiness
From IMDb and forum chatter:
“The young actress who portrayed the ghost was very good… unsettling elements. Come in with low expectations”
“Anyone can make a horror film… this one isn’t big, clever or enjoyable. It has a few intense scares but never quite lands”
These reactions reflect how the film is mostly engaging to genre fans but stumbling in earnest storytelling.
No Tell Motel is a fitful indie ghost story: it boasts a chilling child-spirit and emotionally driven premise, yet falters due to sluggish pacing, underwritten characters, and murky visuals.
Rating: 4 / 10
Pros:
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Compelling haunted premise tied to personal guilt
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Effective ghost actress and eerie moments
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Psychological focus instead of jump-scare reliance
Cons:
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Sluggish build-up and few memorable scares
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Wooden dialogue and character reactions
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Dark, indistinct set design breaks immersion
This is worth exploring if you appreciate indie, mood-driven hauntings and can forgive visual clutter. Hardcore horror fans or those seeking tightly plotted scares may find it too dry and underwhelming.
