By: Jennifer Vintzileos
In Autumn 1995, newly married couple Joey (Christopher Jacot) and Caitlyn (Lauren Lee Smith) Ridgeley are on their way to their honeymoon destination. Finding that they are lost, they spot a sign for the Cold River Motel….deciding to stop for the night before heading to their honeymoon destination the next morning. Upon entering to check in, they are greeted by a young manager (Mike Taylor) coming out of the office. The manager seems a little mussed at first, but then Joey and Caitlyn see his wife (Mercedes Morris) come out as well. Ultimately, the manager hands over the keys to Room 7 and his wife offers to bring a bottle of champagne in a bit to the new couple. As Joey and Caitlyn make their way to their room, we see a spot of blood on the cuff of the manager’s shirt shirt.
When they get to the room, the couple is ready to celebrate their night. Caitlyn goes to freshen up in the bathroom while Joey gets comfortable. Hearing a knock at the door, Joey assumes the champagne has arrived and goes to open it. However, it is not the motel owners but rather a masked figure in a black robe. The figure immediately maims Joey with a broken champagne bottle, Caitlyn unaware of what’s going on until she comes out to find her new husband dead on the floor….and the figure waiting for her.
Flash-forward to thirty years later after the Cold River Motel murders, a group of investigators is heading up to the motel for an inaugural weekend. From podcast host/trauma survivor Blake (Atticus Mitchell), serial thrill seeker Adrianna (Genevieve DeGraves), one-hit wonder actress Paige Harper (Paula Brancati), college academic Andy Lecavalier (Jim Watson), true crime artist Kawayan (Emmanuel Kabongo), and spiritual guide Crow (Shaun Watson), all are there to witness the reopening of Cold River Motel to murder and true crime enthusiasts….hosted by couple Portia (Michelle Nolden) and Ruby (Brynn Godenir). While Portia and Ruby lead the group on a tour of the property and regale everyone with tales of gore, Paige has a flashback during her time portraying Caitlyn in a movie called “Doomed Service.”
Later, the group is treated to dinner by famed chef Hemmingway (Eric McCormack) who creates a meal that looks like the group is eating the remains of Caitlyn….only to find out it is just lamb. But when Hemmingway serves them a cocktail utilizing his own blood, the group begins to have differences of opinion about coming to the motel for the weekend. However, dinner is interrupted by the arrival of an older couple seeking refuge from the storm outside, Floyd (Gray Powell) and Shirley (Yanna McIntosh) Dantree. Hoping to stay for the night, Portia and Ruby stand firm that the couple are encroaching on a private event and can stay in their RV on the premises only. The couple heads back out to their RV to hunker down as Ruby and Portia then share their hopes of recreating Caitlyn’s sacrifice scene.
When Paige is given the attire to wear in order to play the part, she gets dressed and begins to feel uncomfortable. Seeking some solace from the motel, she heads out to the RV to talk to Floyd and Shirley. The couple listen to her concerns and learn more about the motel, even agreeing to give her a ride to town when the storm lets up. With a cup of tea in hand and a sense of calm, Paige begins to head back inside the motel. However, she is stopped by the same mysterious figure from thirty years ago….this time targeting her. Scared, Paige begins to run into the woods to get away from the figure and falls. While she thinks she is the next target, Portia appears from the woods with a camera while Ruby takes off the mask. They wanted to create a scene and film the fear for authenticity. Inside, the group gathers as a rattled Paige walks in and seems ready to leave. Others share the sentiment and it is there that the group learns that Paige was paid to come for the weekend. Angered by this news, Hemmingway storms off as his services were expected for free.
Deciding to take some time to relax, Hemmingway heads to the sauna to get away and relax. While in there, the figure comes up to the window of the sauna. Thinking it is Ruby, Hemmingway tells the figure off and continues to enjoy the heat. However, the figure has other ideas when they lock Hemmingway in the sauna and turn up the heat before leaving. Once Hemmingway realizes that it’s way too hot and he’s ready to head out, it’s too late. With no one around to hear him and his cognitive abilities failing, Hemmingway collapses.
In the motel, Floyd and Shirley have found their way back inside, despite the protests of the owners. In need of facilities that their RV does not accommodate, Ruby and Portia reluctantly let the couple stay if they can pay for it. Handing over a credit card, Floyd and Shirley are then assigned their own room and told to stay there for the duration of the storm.
During their re-enactment of Caitlyn’s ritual scene, Crow insists that the mood is not right as they need Hemmingway to complete the circle. When one of them mentions seeing Hemmingway go in the direction of the sauna, they go to investigate. Upon seeing the lock, everyone becomes a little unnerved and Kawayan does his best to pry the lock off. As the door opens, a gruesome sight awaits: one cooked cook. Panic sets in and when the guests go to use their devices to call for help….the wi-fi is out. With the group turning on Portia and Ruby for no outside communication, they set out to the camper….which explodes. With no transportation on site or way to call anyone, the group is trapped. In a flashback, the young couple from thirty years ago are the ones performing the ritual on Caitlyn. As they look at each other, the flash-forward shows Floyd and Shirley looking at one another in the same way….they are the owners the Ridgeleys met thirty years prior.