Vacancy (2007)

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 | Slasher | Hidden Camera | Snuff Film

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Feb. 17

9:00 PM

LIFE

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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	...	Brenda B (as Dale Waddington Horowitz)
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)

Vacancy, in plot, acting, scares or atmosphere

VACANCY is a complete dud.

The story had potential but horror is the last thing that was on the minds of those who made this aborted effort. The opening sequence shows Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson bickering non-stop as a (unconvincing) couple who are about to divorce. Talk about setting the mood. They end up, like so many horror films, at a dingy motel after their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. At the motel, they realize that it's being used as a place to torture people, which is recorded on video and then sold to people who get off on that kind of stuff.

Like I said, the premise had potential but the end result looks and feels like something made from Aaron Spelling. There's no script, no scares, no tension. The acting is average. And worst of all, the atmosphere is totally non-existent. Atmosphere in a horror film is important. Setting up the mood is 80% to the success of a horror film. If there's no atmosphere, and VACANCY is as atmospheric as an episode of LOVE BOAT, whatever happens in the story or to the actors, rings hollow, like this one.

With films like VACANCY, the horror genre is almost all but dead today.