There are a few problems with Vacancy, but warning, they’re strange ones, not typical of the genre. It’s a thriller that’s legitimately scary at times, but for the wrong reasons. It’s a horror that’s cast big name stars, but that both helps and hurts throughout. Finally, the logic is super wacky, but the film definitely wants to be taken seriously. See? Weird.
To start with let’s get through the threadbare plot. If you’ve seen the trailer, the ad, or looked at the title of the movie itself you pretty much get the idea. A car breaks down, a couple is forced to stay at a less than savory hotel, enter the psychotic night manager. The plot is a failing idea only in the sense that you’ve seen the movie before and you’ll know everywhere it’s going. It’s also got a silly element of character development. I don’t usually knock a movie for trying to add some depth, but in this case the depth is about the couple (Luke and Kate B.) and it’s completely unnecessary. They really could have been any two people in the world and the fear factor would have been the same. Plus we could’ve shaved another ten minutes off the 83 minute running time.
Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale are the couple in peril and they are pretty decent. Kate does start out really cliched and rough but gets stronger as the film progresses into fright mode. The acting is above the average thriller nobody’s level, but this presents a problem. I don’t want to get into spoiler city here but you can guess the issue with not having a large group of people who aren’t stars involved. Basically, every horror film needs its victims but Vacancy has to find them in odd places.
One quick sidenote: the credits. We again get a full-on two minute boring-ass credit sequence at the beginning of this puppy. What a waste of time. Guess who the exec producer is? Hal Lieberman. Way to go Hal, I bet your family is pleased your name is up there for the whole world to see. In the DVD your name will appear with a giant FF2 next to it. You’ve made it baby! The only exception I will make to my no opening credits rule would be for this director, Nimrod Antal. If your name is Nimrod, and you’ve made it this far, you should be allowed to leave your name up there the whole damn movie. Respect.
Okay, real quick, the good news. This thing has some nasty scares up its sleeve. The videos of previous snuff victims and the anticipated terror presented are far scarier than something blunt like Hostel is in this reviewer’s opinion (sorry, I’ve always wanted to put that in a review. Like you wouldn’t already know it was my opinion). So if you’re a big fan of scares (but don’t need huge gore) you might find a friend in Vacancy.
In the final judgment this is another tweener in a month of tweeners. I don’t see how it could miss with horror fans, it’s as good as anything that’s come out this year (though far different from the tongue in cheek Grindhouse). For everyone else there are logic issues, and a sense that you know every step of the way, and then a few more logic issues. So basically, this one is probably exactly as you expected. Vacancy thrives within its genre but comes up just average as a whole.
