Vacancy Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
How can you escape...if they can see everything?
David and Amy Fox find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere when their car breaks down. Luckily, they come across a motel with a TV to entertain them during their overnight stay. However, there's something very strange and familiar about the Grade-Z slasher movies that the motel broadcasts for its guests' enjoyment. They all appear to be filmed in the very same room they occupy! Realizing that they are trapped in their room with hidden cameras now aimed at them filming their every move, David and Amy desperately find a means of escape through locked doors, crawlspaces and underground tunnels before they too become the newest stars of the mystery filmmaker's next cult classic!
| Kate Beckinsale | Amy Fox |
| Luke Wilson | David Fox |
| Frank Whaley | Mason |
| Ethan Embry | Mechanic |
| Scott G. Anderson | Killer |
| Mark Casella | Truck Driver |
| David Doty | Highway Patrol |
| Norm Compton | Snuff Victim |
| Bryan Ross | Snuff Victim |
| Nimród Antal |
6.40 out of 10 (13598 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Cheap crap
posted on 23 Aug 2009This movie was a cheap thriller, the acting was so-so but overall this movie was terrible. This is definitely one of those horror movies where you have to watch with a group of friends and just laugh at how stupid things are. Nothing is realistic in this movie and the producers seem to care zero about making an sense whatsoever in the carrying out of the plot. Starting from the opening scene with the soon to be divorced fighting couple on a road trip, everything was just so unoriginal. Unique or entertaining are words that can never EVER be used to describe this movie. The idea seemed pretty cool when I was reading the movie synopsis however the makers of this film went about it horribly. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WATCHING THIS FILM. You can spend your time better scrubbing toilets than watch this horribly made, horribly arranged, and highly predictable movie.
Pervasive (no joke) suspense with a crappy ending.
posted on 23 Aug 2009For the first ten minutes, Wilson and Beckinsale simply drive and talk, but it is well worth the wait once they get to the motel because the action starts right away. The suspense was literally throughout the whoel movie. Every second there was a new obstacle to face which left the audience (not on the edge of their seat) but falling off because there was so much suspense. It reminded me a lot of Psycho without the hag and SAW/Hostel when you watched the brutal snuff films they make which can be really disturbing i warn you. While watching the film you find yourself rooting for Wilson and Beckinsale because it is so realistic you actually want them to escape. Usually in horror films you kinda (lets be honest) want the main character to die lol. But in this one, the realism makes you hate the villains and root the heroes. The ending i might as well give away so turn away now if you don't want to hear it, it's nothing big at all, in fact it sucks. Luke Wilson gets stabbed and lays there for about two hours without moving, constantly losing blood and Kate Beckinsale kills the other guys and comes back to Wilson and he's alive. Shocker. Reminded me of the end of Texas Chainsaw Massacre the Beginning. And then they call the cops and the scene fades to the credits. The movie was so good i am disappointed they had to end it that way. Nevertheless it delivers a good scare.
Vacancy is truly creepy and scary.
posted on 21 Aug 2009Vacancy, starring big stars Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale, and Ethan Embry. Directed by a new director Nimrod Antal. Produced By Hal Lieberman.Now this film people may call it a slasher flick but I call it a very fast creepy thriller. It is very intense. The couple were in an emotional break down their son died. Not Shown. Anyway the film was Great.The Story: The story was intense, a little deep and the tension was very high.The Acting: The acting was great too but Luke Wilson was good but horror does not fits him.The Direction: The Director did a good job. very good job indeed.The Music: Was excellent it really kept me on my edge of my seat.Watch it. This film is good.
This is a complete waste of time
posted on 19 Aug 2009complete waste of time, no explaining why they kill and why video taping it what so ever. Basically the movie can sums down to this--- A couple checks in a hotel after their car broke down. They try to watch t.v. They see people being killed in the video tapes then people banging on their door. they try to run away from the people trying to kill them, crawling through sewers, tunnels. Straight forward enough thats how the story goes. Nothing interesting about this movie at all. Total waste of time.
it's Vacant, see?
posted on 19 Aug 2009A fairly tense, if highly forgettable, little thriller that has Kate Beckinsale & Luke Wilson as a separating married couple who have the misfortune of stopping for a night in the motel from hell. They must fend for their lives when murderous thugs break in. No characterization to speak of and an ending that is incredibly dull and horribly cliché mar the film which does have it's share of chills otherwise. All the actors are serviceable enough, even though they just seem to be merely going through the motions in this one. It's fair to say that this is Bekinsale's BEST genre films hands down, but only because the other two films that fit that category (Van Helsing & the Underworld films) were so extremely mind-blowingly atrocious. Switch your brain off long enough to ignore the plot-holes and you may just enjoy this one, just don't go into it with high expectations or you'll be sorely disappointed.My Grade: C- DVD Extras (R1): Alternative opening sequence; 21 minute Cast & crew featurette; 9 minutes of extended 'snuff films' (includes brief full frontal & topless nudity); 1 deleted scene: Racoon Encounter; Promo trailers for Blu-ray & Fearnet.com; and Trailers for 30 days of night, Resident Evil: Extinction, Vantage Point, I know who killed me, Revolver, Perfect Stranger, Rise: Blood Hunter, Hostel 2, & Bobby Z
Simple, at times predictable story, but still entertaining
posted on 17 Aug 2009The hype for this film had me pretty excited to see it. I like both Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson. I like to watch pairs on screen, to see how they work together. Some work very well, and others don't. In this case, Beckinsale's and Wilson's characters are not supposed to work well. They portray a couple inches away from divorce who has lost a son. From the beginning you begin to sympathize with them and ask how they got to where they are. In short, the beginning does a good job in drawing you into the story as a whole.That "story as a whole" however, was rather simple and usually pretty predictable. At most parts, I found myself saying "Knew that was going to happen". Especially in thriller flicks, I love when the story delivers an intense "never could have guessed that" twist. This movie has no twists other than the ones already revealed in the trailer.Another thing that had me a little dissatisfied was the fact that some things felt repetitive. I suppose that's going to happen when the movie, lasting about an hour and 25 minutes, depicts events happening in a single night.However, I don't want to sound like the movie was terrible. In fact, there were various other aspects that I was rather pleased with. The villain was purely entertaining to watch. Beckinsale and Wilson were great. The visuals were definitely frightening, and there were some pretty cool classic horror film moments that I enjoyed as well.Vacancy is a good film, but nothing more. I don't see how they could have made it anything more. If you're looking for a simple, entertaining evening, it will probably sit right with you. If it's a mind blowing, hit you smack in the gut, "one of the 10 best this year" film that you want, you probably won't enjoy it as much.
Vacancy just doesn't capture what it could have.
posted on 17 Aug 2009Supposedly their actual existence is debatable, but snuff films could be reduced to urban legend status. Still, this world has some dark corners, so I wouldn't put it out of mind completely. Nevertheless, the idea of people getting pleasure from filming live murders and torture is frightening. However, as much as it could be, 'Vacancy' is not.The idea for this film is not fully realized and instead it's reduced to a cat and mouse chase that becomes all to predictable. Beyond the initial viewing of the snuff tapes (left intentionally in the room by the manager), which is probably the film's most intense scene, the couple runs from room to room as they attempt to get away, which the film makes too easy for them at times.The real issue lies with the lack of details in the workings of the villains and motel. It appears we have three men who do nothing more than check people into a room and kill them soon after. They do very little to toy with their minds. No mystery about the villains exists. The hotel manager is the only one afforded any time for development and it is all far too superficial. What is needed is some more for the villains to do. I doubt that after doing this for as long as they have, their methods would be as primitive and mundane as displayed here.The always beautiful Beckinsale and seemingly aloof Wilson, who manages to sidestep his usual goof-ball role, do what they can with what they are given. Aside from an opening scene where they lay out the status of their marriage, they are given very little time for further development--outside of the typical "I love you now that we have been through something awful." All in all, a very mediocre film that could have been so much more with a reworking. Also, if you do see this film, see if you can spot the moment when the script writers had no other ideas on where to go next. It's obvious.
A brilliant and captivating thriller. Takes the genre and blows it in your face
posted on 13 Aug 2009Vacancy is everything you could possibly ask for in the Horror/Thriller Genre. Granted many will tell you this genre is tired and old and everything they churn out now will be sub-par and predictable but it's all in how the story is created and Vacancy couldn't possibly be any more brilliant with it's direction, setting, gore, cheap scares (the kind that just make you jump), surprises, and down right brilliant performances from it's two lead stars...possibly the best roles I have ever seen them in. This film is just everything that going to see a Horror in the theater is all about and it's the best of every possible scenario. You have the isolation of the dark highway and the dimly lit, poorly kept hotel. You have the serial killer(s) in creepy dark masks, you have mysterious phone calls, you have the terrifying banging on the walls scene...this is just an absolute must see!! I have very, very little details that I would nit pick. You might find some mild plot holes, barely noticeable, and the nods to previous horror genres are seemingly plentiful (although they always are if you purposely go in looking for them.) A film about cops is always going to have a gun in it...doesn't mean they are copying Robocop or Die Hard, it means cops carry guns.Luke Wilson. Decent guy, decent actor, has had some good roles...a better and overall more versatile actor than his brother but hasn't always gotten the great roles. This on the other hand is the type of role that could launch into far more serious roles because he does an amazing job playing the macho leading man. He was so believable and emotional and just an all around terrific performance. Kate Beckinsale looking as good as she always does plays the emotionally drained and terrified wife and does an equally brilliant performance as Wilson. The two of them together are a tour de force and she is really very good...one of her strongest performances I have ever seen her in. Because of the terrific story that sets up their background and their characters they get such a wide range of emotions out of their characters both independently and together. Character actor Frank Whaley plays the orchestrator of all the mayhem and the 'manager' of the small hotel the couple stops at. Granted Whaley's character is a little stereotypical in every form imaginable but doesn't make him any less of a great adversary and scary as hell bad guy. Mention must go out to the two killers in the film who you don't see much of their face but they still make for impressive killers given their body language and movements Ethan Embry and Scott G. Anderson.Many reviewers will likely point all the predictable same old spots in Vacancy but overall there was just something very different about this film. It was done in such a perfect way and the performances were far exceeding expectations and there were actually a lot of legitimate surprises and like with any truly great horror film the ending is left open to worlds of interpretation. Is this person going to live? Is the other person actually dead? Apparently his first venture into English speaking films director Nimród Antal has no problem with this genre and creates just about as creepy a setting as you can possibly think of. I struggled a little bit to give a perfect score to a film in a genre where many believe it is tired and worn but I have to go with my gut instinct and how much I enjoyed sitting in this film and being glued to my seat and just thoroughly enjoying every aspect of it. I can't say everyone will feel the same but I can promise you that you'll get a hell of a good time out of this amazing thriller. 10/10
kept me glued!!
posted on 09 Aug 2009Scary enough movie without being too gory. Luke Wilson, I thought, did a fine acting job as a man who is really scared knowing he and his wife are trapped in this motel run by psychos and who is trying to find a way out to save himself and his wife. In other words, it was nice seeing a man act the way one would in this kind of a situation and not like John Wayne or Sylvester Stallone in their "I got it covered mode". Kate Beckinsale is also good. Frank Whaley is creepy enough!! All in all, if you like suspenseful movies; this should do it for you!!
awful
posted on 09 Aug 2009mmhh, the acting is OK, Wilson and beckingsale make a beautiful couple, having lost their son and being in the midst of a divorce you feel sorry for them, they get lost on a road, and check into this crummy hotel, then the problems with this movie start, when you have watched a fair amount of horror movies you know what's going to happen, you see a shot and you can predict the next, e.g. when the poor old cop comes and checks the rooms, you know this guy will not survive,this movie is so predictabel it hurts, so in the end you feel sorry for the actors, i guess the film execs saw idenity and thought hey this stuff can work, so stay away from it.
Unlike the others, didn't like it
posted on 05 Aug 2009Am I the only one who didn't like this film? Obviously we saw the same film, from the plot details. It started off slow, so slow, and we all know the plot, so what else is there? Actually, from the trailers, I thought there was something more "mystical" about the room. Maybe I didn't like it because I don't like a horror movie for the slash and gore. But this wasn't even suspenseful. Wasn't unpredictable, or original. Someone banging on the door is the intro to the madness- Wow! Oh, masked men. The masks aren't even unique - wow! What may have made it a little interesting is finding out why the guys did what they did. Maybe I mised that part. I was on the internet the whole time. That's how boring and predictable it was. If you agree, and want to see real suspense, unpredicatability, and a true mind trip, check out The Lost Room. In comparison, this movie was cheap garbage.
Norman Bates Should Have Had A Set Up Like This
posted on 05 Aug 2009I'm convinced that players like Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson take roles in films like Vacancy because they get a chance to overact outrageously and no one notices. That and the fact that slasher films do make a lot of money no matter how good or bad they are.Two newly marrieds, our lead players, get lost on a highway and arrive at an out of the way motel with a car that's broken down. The decor is right out of pest control, but it's better than sleeping in the vehicle so they think.To their horror they discover the place is a trap used for the making of snuff films and the manager who runs it has quite a collection. He's quite the little organizer the manager and Beckinsale and Wilson spend the rest of the film avoiding what they have in store. It doesn't help that the entire place has both cameras and listening devices all over. I would have said bugs, but there are plenty of those too.Acting honors in this epic go to Frank Whaley as the manager, in his performance, he makes Beckinsale and Wilson look like a pair of lawn ornaments.It looks like everybody had a great old time making this, so if you like slasher flicks you'll enjoy this.
not bad
posted on 03 Aug 2009This isn't a bad movie, but it's not a great movie either. Yes, you will become engrossed in this movie and it will probably keep you on the edge of your seat.BUT There really isn't much of a plot. There's no twist and at no point of the movie do you just sit back and say "aw, i can't believe that just happened." I kept guessing through out the movie what the surprise in the end would be but I couldn't really think of anything. Reason for that being because there wasn't one.In the end, I did enjoy this movie. I just expected too much out of it. See this movie if you want to watch a good thriller that will get your heart rate up. If you want a movie with a thick plot that will keep you guessing, look else where.
Worst. Movie. Ever. (in all fairness, one of the worst movies ever)
posted on 03 Aug 2009Honestly. You have got to be kidding me.This movie was the worst piece of crap I have ever seen.I have now wasted 2 hours of my life, and I want my $4.15 from Blockbuster back.I love Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale is great, but come on!!! I always wonder how good actors can get stuck in crap films.FIRE YOUR CRAP AGENT!!! All obnoxiousness aside, the film was beyond predictable.The film script was extremely half-ass-ed.Seems like a lackluster director tried to rebound from his inevitable decline towards the excrement we all leave in the sewers...
not too good really...
posted on 01 Aug 2009I saw this movie in London recently. Wouldn't normally pay to go see this kind of show, to be frank (not that I don't like horror movies/thrillers as much as the next guy, but the plot line seemed pretty unpromising, as did the trailer)... alas, I was a big fan of KONTROLL, so willing to give Nimrod the benefit of the doubt on his H-wood debut. I would have expected a hell of a lot more from a director (and movie-lover) of his caliber... to say the least! This was a definite B movie, and a pretty unimaginative one at that. Strictly by the numbers. Everyone seems to praise the fact there was (virtually) no blood on display, but I'm not really sure that's such a great accomplishment, unless you're worried sick about (your) teenaged kids seeing too much blood in movies -- and something tells me this one, not particularly high profile or successful movie isn't going to make a huge amount of difference there...Kate B was considerably better than usual, it must be said. Would have expected a bit more from Frank Whaley. Luke Wilson's character has a look of permanent irritation -- which, I suspect, almost everyone in the audience did as well, and thus he was able to get your sympathy (also for not slapping the annoying character played by Kate). Otherwise he played with the same gestures, emotions and of course voice that he always does.Hopefully Nimrod was just "paying his dues" with this one and will come up with a decent film next time around -- though he probably stands a better chance of that happening if he makes it back in Europe.
Unremarkable, but somehow very very good!
posted on 31 Aug 2009The back of the DVD box reads something like; a couple stay in a hotel where they are forced to participate in a snuff movie. This is the crux of the film, there are no twists or turns, clever plot lines, subliminal messages about the state of modern life, and this definitely won't win any Oscars for originality. But the film is so well executed that you are literally on the edge of your seat for the whole movie. I can't put my finger on why it is so good, the lighting, score, acting, directing is all sound but unexceptional. Yet together it all somehow merges to form a genuinely edgy film out classing the majority of its big-budget rivals. From the opening credits you know what is going to happen and have seen it all before but somehow this film is extremely tense and we were all hooked. There is hardly any gore, and less is definitely more in this case as the small snippets of implied violence have more impact and forces your imagination to connect you to the film. I highly recommend this film as an old school thriller slash lower case horror. It won't blow your mind but will make you check under the bed before going to sleep.