Netflix Animated Series Haunted Hotel Review: One Room Please!

This spectacular, spooky series is an adult animation created by Matt Roller, animated by Titmouse, and produced by Dan Harmon, Chris McKenna, and Matt Roller. The story revolves around the antics of a family that has recently moved into a haunted hotel with rooms booked with supernatural entities. The new owners of this establishment are a single mother, Katherine, and her two children, Ben and Esther, who recently inherited this possessed property from Katherine’s late brother, Nathan. The series is loaded with pleasant dark comedy, solid writing, and storytelling, and is voiced by a fantastic cast.

Meet The Characters

• Katherine (voiced by Eliza Coupe): a headstrong, single mother who is trying to keep the hotel from going under (financially and literally). From cleaning possessed rooms to maintaining haunted corridors, she tries to keep the haunted out of the Haunted Hotel. While she is not the best negotiator with the dead, she is still able to keep the place afloat and running. She comes off as bossy and irritable, but she is a strong, loving mother who is willing to understand and try to make the best out of everything for both sides.
• Ben (voiced by Skylar Gisondo): the teenage son of Katherine, is a sensitive soul who also happens to be a sensitive medium. Mingling with the ghosts while also trying to find love, his cautious and goofy demeanor is a snug counterpart to the undying optimism of his uncle, the chaotic shenanigans of his sister and Abaddon, and the sternness of his mother. Yes, he can be a bit cowardly, but when a problem arises, he is still willing to face it head-on if it means keeping his family safe.
• Esther (voiced by Natalie Palamides): a mischievous little girl who easily fits herself into the supernatural world of the hotel. She is always scheming something with Abaddon, practicing the dark arts, and enjoying the ghosts’ company. She is intelligent, crafty, and lives and breathes chaos. However, she still loves her family and knows when something goes too far. It’s also important to note that despite her love for the supernatural, she’s trying to find her place in the natural.
• Nathan (voiced by Will Forte): the literal heart and soul of the haunted hotel itself, he acts as a bridge between the spectres and his living family. His undying optimism and “can-do” attitude make him a wonderful standout. While he may seem like a pushover, he is actually the supportive moral center between his mortal family and the ghostly residents. Everyone could use a funny uncle like him.
• Abaddon (voiced by Jimmi Simpson): the demon that is the embodiment of absolute chaos himself, is trapped in the vessel of a young boy from the 1800s. Brought into the hotel by Nathan, he’s always lurking around, causing or getting into trouble with everyday matters (he really likes blenders). Despite being a powerful demon, his powers are limited in the mortal realm, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t use them for his own gain.

Final Thoughts: Check In and Never Check Out!

Even though the series has only one season, Haunted Hotel is jam-packed with supernatural chaos, funny shenanigans, as well as heartfelt moments between the living and the dead. The writing is very strong and has a nice balance between gore and comedy that is delivered by the talented cast behind the characters. I highly recommend reserving a room for this series to witness the supernatural events that happen within.