Twelve Nights at Rotter House

Ocker, best known for his Edgar-winning travel guide, Poe-Land: The Hallowed Haunts of Edgar Allan Poe, fails to impress in this supernatural thriller. Travel writer Felix Allsey asks Emilia Garza, the owner of Rotterdam Mansion, named for a 19th-century Prussian immigrant, for permission to spend 13 nights in the derelict property, which is better known as Rotter House. Allsey intends to write a book about his experiences there, using the place, which is “legendary for its violent history and paranormal reputation,” as a “sensory deprivation tank.” Emilia gives her consent after Allsey persuades her that his book will generate publicity and profits. Once inside, he’s spooked by noises suggesting that he’s not the sole occupant, and mysterious sounds persist even after he’s joined by his best friend, a fellow horror fan. References to such genre classics as Algernon Blackwood’s “The Willows” only make this effort pale by comparison, and the unoriginal denouement fizzles. Those seeking scares and atmosphere will have to look elsewhere. (Oct.)