PREMIER MOVIE REVIEWS - Vacancy (2007)

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Vacancy (2007)

Genre: Thriller

Director: Nimród Antal

Certificate: Vacancy  was rated 16 by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for those of 16 years of age or upwards.

Violence = strong. Drugs = none. Sex/Nudity = mild. Language = strong.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Vacancy

  Plot Summary & Review

With a director called Nimród Antal I wasn't sure quite what to expect from this film but not a bad little thriller, though it could have been something quite brilliant in the right hands.

Vacancy
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 A warring couple Amy and David Fox (Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson) whose marriage is on its last legs and about to come to an end, wind up breaking down on a lonely highway after getting lost during a trip to visit her parents for their wedding anniversary celebrations.  She’s zonked out on Prozac most of the time following a family tragedy, and he's increasingly irritated by the whole situation as they continually bicker about trivial issues.  Finding a grubby motel and gas station a couple of miles down the road they decide to dig in for the night in the hope of getting the car repaired in the morning.

However, after putting the video recorder on in their room they are horrified to see a snuff movie that on closer inspection was filmed in the very room they have been allocated by the slimy hotel clerk Mason (Frank Whaley).  A cat and mouse game ensues as they spot camera's hidden all around the room and are targeted by two heavies employed by Mason who is running a business dealing in these awful movies and will stop at nothing to get what he needs for his films. 

There are a lot of jumpy moments, but somewhere near the end I had the feeling the script writers kind of run out of ideas for a real clever finale and we were left with something that turned out to be quite flat and coupled with little real character development it left me feeling a tad disappointed.

However, that said Vacancy was quite watchable if you ignore some of the gaping holes, and for me Frank Whaley as Mason stole the show putting in an effective and creepy performance, a kind of Norman Bates minus his mother.  Not sure what the budget was but you never actually leave the motel, despite that it did keep me interested, though I lament the fact that with a better script it could have been a real triumph.  In a word - Interesting.

Reviewed by Mary Kate, Premier Movie Reviews 2007

If you enjoy Vacancy you might also enjoy: Identity or  Paradise Lost.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS: KATE BECKINSALE: Pearl Harbor,  Serendipity,  The Aviator.  LUKE WILSON: Blades of Glory,  Charlies Angels,  Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle,  Legally Blonde,  Legally Blonde 2.  ETHAN EMBRY: Sweet Home Alabama,  Timeline.

Main Cast

Kate Beckinsale

Luke Wilson

Frank Whaley

Ethan Embry

Scott G. Anderson

Mark Casella

RATING

WORTH A WATCH

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