Diksha Sundriyal
Created by Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter, Shudder’s ‘Hell Motel’ begins with the arrival of a group of true crime enthusiasts in a motel infamous for the murders that happened there three decades ago. Over the course of eight episodes, the slasher horror series delivers a compelling whodunit, where the twists and turns keep the audience guessing, while the mysterious killer picks off the residents of the Cold River Motel one by one. With all the blood and mayhem that unravels in the show, the question about the story’s connection to reality arises.
The Fictional Hell Motel Takes a Stab at True Crime Enthusiasts
The events in ‘Hell Motel,’ including the Cold River Slaughters, are entirely fictional creations of Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter, horror enthusiasts who have delivered some great stories in the slasher horror genre. With this show, they wanted to explore the consequences of getting what one wants. The story revolves around the people who arrive at the Cold River Motel to witness the sight of gruesome killings and, in some ways, live the experience. Through these characters, the show’s creators wanted to explore the psychology behind the obsession with the true crime genre, questioning why humans are drawn towards blood-curdling tragedies, and where one draws the line for this morbid fascination.
Each character in the show brings something new to the table, allowing the writers to look at people’s fixation with true crime from different perspectives. This leads the story to delve deeper into themes like influencer culture and the moral conflicts surrounding certain fetishes and how society can turn everything into a trend that raises even more moral and ethical questions. In one of those characters, they also look at the story of a scream queen named Paige. Through her, Martin and Carpenter pay homage to the scream queens of the 70s and 80s whose names have been forgotten over the years.
Another thing that the creators focused on getting right was the location. With motels having played an integral role in the horror genre, in movies like ‘Psycho’ and ‘Identity,’ the creators wanted to set the show in a location whose unfamiliarity would make it another character in the story. The uncertainty behind every door in the motel makes it fascinating and dangerous, which elevates the horror of the situation. At the end of the day, their intent was to use all the bits and pieces to create a fractured mirror for the audience to see their reflection in the different fragments and wonder how far, if at all, they would go to explore their fascination.
At the same time, Martin and Carpenter also wanted to deliver a compelling story that would allow the audience the space to nitpick everything about the plot and the characters and make their own mind about where the story might be heading and what fate holds for each character. They relish in engaging their fans in such a way, and with ‘Hell Motel,’ they did not want to leave any stone unturned to deliver a horror show worthy of their reputation.
Read More: Hell Motel Episode 1 and 2 Recap: Blood Bath and Night Orchid
