Review #83: Vacancy (2007)

Cast/Notable Credits:
Nimrod Antal (Director)

Luke Wilson (David Fox ): Scream 2, The Royal Tenebaums (2001), Old School (2003), My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006), Idiocracy (2006)

Kate Beckinsale (Amy Fox): Underworld 1 (2003) & 1 (2006), Van Helsing, Pearl Harbor (2001), Click (2006)

Frank Whaley (Mason): Pulp Fiction (1994), World Trade Center (2006), Crazy Eights (2006)

Ethan Embry (Mechanic): Disturbing Behavior (1998), Eagle Eye (2008)

Trailer:



Plot: A bickering married couple, Amy and David, are driving through the middle of nowhere late at night on their way to L.A. Thanks to an accident on the interstate, David decides to take a short cut to avoid the backed up traffic while his wife sleeps. Hours later she awakens during the night while David drives down a dark and secluded mountain road.

A raccoon scampers across the road and David swerves to miss the creature, only to cause mysterious engine problems for the couple's car. David is able to drive the car a little farther down the road to an isolated town named Pinewood and into it's local gas station. A mechanic greets them and "fixes" the problem and gives them directions back to the interstate. They thank and pay the man and head off down the road again.

A few miles down the road, the car breaks down further, leaving them stranded on the road. They walk back to the little town to call for assistance. Their cell phones aren't receiving any reception. Go figure. The gas station is now closed, so they head towards the only other building in town, the motel. With no luck on getting a mechanic to come out, they decide to stay the night at the run down motel. The creepy motel clerk hooks them up with a luxury suite. Only it's not as luxurous as they thought.

While attempting to go to bed, David discovers a tape in the VCR and decides to play it. On the tape appears to be a real life brutal snuff film taking place inside the couple's room. The couples on the tape are attacked, brutalized and killed. Amy and David search the room to find hidden cameras in the air vents. The phone rings and they pick up to silence. Some one mysterious pounds on the couples mtoel room door, scaring Amy and David. And then a vicious cycle between the phone ringing and pounding begins.

David attempts to call for help on the pay phone outside the motel. Only the help on the other side of the line already know his name and emergency. Trapped in the local motel complex, Amy and David fight to survive the mysterious tormentors.

Vacancy is one of those creepy, suspense thrillers with a great idea, but the execution is a little poor. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed watching the film. And I liked the idea of a couple being isolated and stranded while being stalked for enjoyment. But there was something a little "off" which I couldn't really put my finger on.

Maybe it's how the film made it's own suspense by placing the characters in situations that let's say common sense could have avoided. You know, those decisions the characters do in movies that wouldn't do yourself. Or at least hope you don't do in that situation. Like remain in the motel when there are plenty of opportunities to bolt into the wilderness and run. Or go back and lock yourself in a room when you know that the motel's management has the keys to every door.

Usually when I think of motels the first thing I think of is: how many people have paid buy the hour and not the day? Secondly, if CSI ever used one of those ultraviolet light sticks, how many splatter patterns would it detect? So if you find yourself choosing between motels and hotels, pick the hotel. Not that any of that stuff doesn't happen in hotels, but I'd place my bet between the two for less chance of sleeping in a diseased bed, I'd pick the hotel. Quick question: Which Paris hotel would you want to stay at? The one on the right or the one on the left? I bet the one on the left has some type of disease on its own. But it still would be fun to stay there.

There are plenty of good thrill and suspense moments in Vacancy but some times it got overshadowed by the pretty maddening decision making of the couple. The film takes place during the night time which adds to the creepy atmosphere. The majority of the scenes are shot in a dark setting offering little light to the viewers. Which I think works for the film. The only pitfall...we can't get good glimpses of Kate Beckinsale (pictured below).
It's a pretty good film considering it lacks the main ingredients of a horror film, plenty of deaths, blood, and a little good ole' fashion TNA. Luckily for us there is a "prequel" to the movie coming out in the future. Hopefully it doesn't hold back in any of those ingredients. Just let the heads roll and clothes fly off.

Misc. Movie Trivia:
-Filmed opened on April 20, 2007 and made $18.9 million at the Box Office ($7.6 million opening weekend)
-Sarah Jessica Parker was considered for the role of Amy
-Was distributed to theaters as "Temporary Arrangement"
-Internet ad/promo: call 1-888-9VACANCY to receive promo code: 8889 which used on the website for snuff film previews