* CompleteMonster: [[EvilMatriarch Margaret Goodnight]] seems like a [[BitchInSheepsClothing kindly old woman]] opening a hotel as a homeless shelter, but she is in fact the mastermind behind her son Jacob’s killing spree. Luring several teenage delinquents, and a police officer overseeing them into a murder trap for her son, it is discovered that she is the one who molded Jacob into the killer he is today. Ever since Jacob was young, Margaret would [[AbusiveParents abuse and torture him]] and at one point tortured a girl in front of Jacob, forcing him to watch as [[EyeScream she ripped the girl’s eye out]]. She brainwashed Jacob into believing he is the hand of God, and kill people she sees as sinners, even if they have so much as a religious tattoo. When Jacob is reluctant to kill a hostage, Margaret belittles him for being "ungrateful" and attempts to do the deed herself.
* CriticalDissonance: Reviews were overwhelmingly negative, with only a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the audience score is split right down the middle at 50%. While it's generally seen as nothing great, most horror fans agree that it's nowhere near as awful as critics made it out to be, and it certainly has its fans, enough to spawn a sequel 8 years later.
* EnsembleDarkhorse: Richie, for being a NiceGuy.
* NightmareFuel:
** The girl getting eaten by the dogs. The twisted irony of it doesn't really help.
* RootingForTheEmpire: Any Wrestling/{{Kane}} fan can attest this is really easy.
* TheScrappy: Michael is one for most people, considering he's a sexist a-hole who was previously Kira's boyfriend, and had abused her. The fact that he lives in favor of [[TheSmartGuy Ty]], [[TheCutie Melissa]] or [[EnsembleDarkhorse Ritchie]], all of whom are far more likeable, doesn't make it any better.
* {{Squick}}: Jacob's ''maggot-infested head''.
* UnintentionallySympathetic: The filmmakers admitted (gleefully, in fact) that they wanted the teenaged victims to be as annoying as possible in order to make Jacob Goodnight look cool (as if that was even necessary for gore-loving horror fans). Problem is, the kids just aren't quite annoying ''enough'' to justify their murders. The fact that they're in that hotel against their will and are pretty much helpless also tends to lend much sympathy to them.
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