Vacancy (2007)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Nimród Antal

Writer (WGA):

Mark L. Smith (written by)

Release Date:

20 April 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

How can you escape...if they can see everything?

Plot:

A young married couple becomes stranded at an isolated motel and finds hidden video cameras in their room. They realize that unless they escape, they'll be the next victims of a snuff film

Plot Keywords:

Motel | Trapped | Tunnel | Snuff Film | Slasher

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kate Beckinsale	...	Amy Fox
Luke Wilson	...	David Fox
Frank Whaley	...	Mason
Ethan Embry	...	Mechanic
Scott G. Anderson	...	Killer
Mark Casella	...	Truck Driver (as Mark Cassella)
David Doty	...	Highway Patrol
Norm Compton	...	Snuff Victim
Caryn Mower	...	Snuff Victim
Meegan Godfrey	...	Snuff Victim (as Meegan E. Godfrey)
Kym Stys	...	Snuff Victim
Andrew Fiscella	...	Steven R
Dale Waddington Horowitz	...	Brenda B
Ernest Misko	...	Snuff Victim (as Ernie Misko)
Bryan Ross	...	Snuff Victim

MPAA:

Rated R for brutal violence and terror, brief nudity and language.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Ireland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:16 | Italy:T (with warning/VM12) | France:-12 | Australia:MA | South Korea:18 | Malaysia:18PL | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | Spain:18 | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-15 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | Italy:VM18 (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

Screen Gems

Trivia:

Sarah Jessica Parker was originally selected for the film, but dropped out and was replaced by Kate Beckinsale.

Goofs:

Continuity: During earlier scenes in the motel room, David's shirt continually alternates between having a large patch of moisture on the back and being wrinkled but dry.

Quotes:

[first lines]
David Fox: [after swerving while driving] Son of a bitch!
Amy Fox: What are you doing?
David Fox: It was a goddamn raccoon in the middle of the road!
Amy Fox: Well, better to kill us than get a little roadkill on the car, huh?
David Fox: Well, we're still alive. I can tell by the pissy look that you're giving me.

Movie Connections:

References Psycho (1960)

What a thriller is supposed to be: tension, suspense, and jump-out-of-your-seat scares

I had an awesome time watching Vacancy. It really got my adrenaline pumping, and twice it made me jump so much that I was embarrassed. Never have I shaken so violently at a shock scare. The acting was great, the characters were extremely believable, and the tension was incredible.

I love horror films, but they often disappoint me in that they trade true suspense and tension for gore. An amount of gore is necessary to invoke fear of the villains, and I feel like the director of Vacancy used just enough. What he is really skilled at is racking up the arm-rest gripping, hand-fidgeting tension. I was still calming down after the movie had long ended.

If you liked Red Eye or the recent The Hitcher, you'll definitely like this. If you didn't like either of those, try this out anyway. I don't think you'll be disappointed.