Vacancy

[indiephantom]

This film looks decent. I saw another TV spot that made me laugh with its use of "Don't". Don't answer the phone! Don't use the shower. :)

I've always liked Frank Whaley and you rarely see that guy. Could be interesting, and will Kate Beckinsale finally appear in a decent film? :glasses:

[Erick H.]

I'll check this one out,I think the director also did the import KONTROLL.

[indiephantom]

I'll check this one out,I think the director also did the import KONTROLL.

Didn't know that. "Kontroll" is pretty cool.

[bigdaddyhorse]

KONTROLL would be a good name for a spelling challeged rapper.:D

This does look promising although I'm weary. My GF is hyped as she loves Kate and wants to see it, so I'll tag along.

[maskull]

I actually thought this looked bad from the ads on TV that I saw. I didn't buy Luke and Kate in the role but maybe it'll turn out ok.

[VideoViolence]

This looks like one hell of a movie. And Kate Beckinsale is mighty hot, as always! :D :evil: :banana:

[Ash28M]

Saw this today and loved it. The suspense was thick and didn't let up until the end. Usually when a horror film casts big names in there staring roles it's really a red flag for me but this really delivered. My second favorite of the year after Grindhouse so far.

[moogong]

Saw this today and loved it. The suspense was thick and didn't let up until the end. Usually when a horror film casts big names in there staring role it's really a red flag for me but this really delivered. My second favorite of the year after Grindhouse so far.

Agreed. I was not expecting it to be as good as it was. Frank Wiley was great in his role as well.

[Ash J. Williams]

Indeed, it was the scariest theatrical horror film in years. I wrote a review of it, which should be up on www.justpressplay.net within a day or so. I'll link you guys to it once they put it up.

[Paul0889]

this was a great thriller. good acting, and it was actually scary! shocker. i kept reading reviews commenting on how dry the film is, but i thought it was actually damn violent, no gore at all like i was hoping there'd be a little of, but pretty violent. the snuff footage was actually very disturbing and creeped the hell out of me. now the bad...the ending! incomplete is the word. the movie kept you on the edge of your seat and then it was like "huh thats it??". it's as if the film makers just wanted to get it over with or something, i dunno, still a great movie. will definitely buy on dvd.

[Curt Duncan]

I'm gonna see this one next weekend. :)

[MorallySound]

I saw this last night. It was pretty good, except for the ending. ***1/2 out of *****

The only thing that really really bothered me about the ending is that Luke Wilson survives. They should have left him dead. That's the only real beef I have with the ending, otherwise it ends fine.

[Ash J. Williams]

When I saw the film, the whole theater groaned when he opened his eyes, and I couldn't understand why. He was stabbed once in the gut, and it takes a hell of a long time to die from that. Plus, the fact that he survives gives you an open-ended idea of what might happen to their marriage. If only she survived, then the whole point of them starting to love one another again by going through all this is wasted. It was clear to me from the start that either neither would die, or both would. I was very pleased with the ending.

[Luna]

Thanks for using spoiler tags, guys! I'm thinking of seeing this when it hits the dollar theater. I don't know much about it at all but I do so often prefer it this way. I also wanted to see Kontroll a year or so ago. I had it on my Netflix queue but the queue was so large that it never got delivered before I cancelled the service. One of these days, I guess. :D

[Ash28M]

I saw this last night. It was pretty good, except for the ending. ***1/2 out of *****

The only thing that really really bothered me about the ending is that Luke Wilson survives. They should have left him dead. That's the only real beef I have with the ending, otherwise it ends fine.

I agree but I consider that a minor beef. I don't sweat that stuff too much especially when the rest of the film was great.

Saying that I was glad that the girl survived, as I didn't think the film called for a depressing ending this time (even though I usually prefer it). I thought the guys should of remanded dead though and I didn't like the fact that they left his body there in full view the next morning. They wouldn't have been that reckless being that they were in business that long.

Again they're minor beefs, I had a great time with this film.

[indiephantom]

The film is great! Love the use of location. Very old school, and here's another GRINDHOUSE-style upgrade that you cats will enjoy. Didn't realize how much I'd love the cast. Wilson and Beckinsale are believable and never become annoying or over-the-top. I liked them...and Whaley is fucking cool, too.

See it in the theatre.

[Anthropophagus]

Great film, well worth seeing. The opening credits reminded me of Psycho, pretty cool.

[indiephantom]

Great film, well worth seeing. The opening credits reminded me of Psycho, pretty cool.

Totally! I was thinking Saul Bass the moment it started. I really miss opening title sequences as they're missing from most current cinema. The music was very cool also. I really loved this little film.:cool:

[mclay18]

Do we get to see Kate Beckinsale in various states of undress, or does she keep her clothes on in this movie? :D

The movie looks good, anyway. I'll have to check it out.

[Anthropophagus]

Do we get to see Kate Beckinsale in various states of undress, or does she keep her clothes on in this movie? :D

The movie looks good, anyway. I'll have to check it out.

Tragically, she keeps her clothes on but don't let that deter you from seeing this great film. Alongside Zodiac and Grindhouse, it's in my top three for 2007 so far. I also agree that actual opening credits are sorely lacking and I miss them too.

[Workshed]

Wow, this was good? I have a tough time with the trailers, mainly because I can't buy Luke Wilson in peril. He's so damn quirky and great in the Wes Anderson films that I keep expecting him to smirk or something in the Vacancy trailers. I might check it out if it hits the cheap theater--or rent.

[Livingdead102]

Roeper gave it a thumb down, but Mellencamp gave it a thumbs up, and with all the praise here I might have to check it out.

[indiephantom]

Tragically, she keeps her clothes on but don't let that deter you from seeing this great film. Alongside Zodiac and Grindhouse, it's in my top three for 2007 so far. I also agree that actual opening credits are sorely lacking and I miss them too.

You've just quoted my top 3 films, too.

My order at the moment:
1. Zodiac
2. Grindhouse
3. Vacancy

:banana:

[Ash28M]

You've just quoted my top 3 films, too.

My order at the moment:
1. Zodiac
2. Grindhouse
3. Vacancy

:banana:


Really Zodiac at #1? I had hard time getting into that film. Athough technically not as good, I think I had a better time watching the Alexander Bulkley version. I guess I need to watch it again.

[indiephantom]

Really Zodiac at #1? I had hard time getting into that film. Athough technically not as good, I think I had a better time watching the Alexander Bulkley version. I guess I need to watch it again.

I was just fascinated by the whole approach. I think the film is trying to be a bit distant, just as we are from the period it depicts. It was the quickest 3 hours of cinema for me in a long time. You may indeed enjoy it more on a second viewing. I'm hoping to see it again at the discount cinema next week.

[dmeister]

Do we get to see Kate Beckinsale in various states of undress, or does she keep her clothes on in this movie?
Actually, the make-up crew must have put in overtime in order to make Beckinsale not look incredibly hot. Both Beckinsale and Wilson were made to look rather ordinary, which made the movie that much more believable.

dmeister

[Spitfire]

Saw it on Friday. Excellent thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. The movie is filmed in extreme darkness throughout; subtle lights of the Motel and headlights keep the film lit. I like that for a scary flick, as it sets the tone. Well, the movie is brilliant! I loved the whole concept. It's a good time at the movies. The film is short, suspenseful, and I loved the creepy killer masks. If you have a chance, go see it at the theaters.

PS. Will buy once it hits DVD.

[indiephantom]

PS. Will buy once it hits DVD.

oh, yeah. :banana:

[Hellbilly]

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release Vacancy on August 14th. The thriller, starring Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale, arrives with an anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Bonus materials will include deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, extended "snuff" videos from the film and a trailer gallery.

source: www.davisdvd.com

[DrHerbertWest]

I thought this movie was pretty good but I have one stinkin' gripe with it.

Why is it that in EVERY horror movie featuring a couple or group of friends, the guy is dispatched so easily and the girl always lives? Luke Wilson is the brains behind all of the little things they do to stay alive, then in a matter of seconds, he's stabbed in the gut and out of the movie. Kate manages to get to the car, kill two of the crazies, get to the office, grab the gun, kill the head guy and survive without much injury

I would love to see another movie with the opposite result, just as a refresher for horror movies.

[Myron Breck]

Preach on, DrHW! I have been waiting for this ever-present (since ALIEN, anyway) trend to derail itself at some point but it so rarely does. You'd think that filmmakers might want to surprise their audience at some point and go against the grain.

[onebyone]

I certainly did not think this was an on the edge of your seat thriller. It was more a "relaxing on the couch, checking the timer on the dvd player often" kind of thriller. It had a *few* moments where it worked, but otherwise, it all seemed very average to me. I was happy to discover that it was not really a torture porn film, but still, take out the snuff footage and this would be perfect for the Lifetime network.

To rise from being so, so, so very average, I think I would have needed to care if the two leads lived or died and I didn't. The movie and the "actors" didn't really give me a single reason to. Kate and Luke may be easy on the eyes, but they cannot act at all. Not one bit. Put them together and you get.. vacancy, literally.

[Agent Z]

Kate and Luke may be easy on the eyes, but they cannot act at all. Not one bit. Put them together and you get.. vacancy, literally.


:lol:

Hey, you know the Underworld prequel is rumored to be Beckinsale-less, so perhaps you can come back to that franchise for the next installment? :D

[Copyboy]

I certainly did not think this was an on the edge of your seat thriller. It was more a "relaxing on the couch, checking the timer on the dvd player often" kind of thriller . . . take out the snuff footage and this would be perfect for the Lifetime network.

Totally agree. This movie was not what I'd read about here. It was like a very watered down torture porn wannabe made for TV piece of garbage.

Loved the opening title sequence though. Reminiscent of Saul Bass as someone else mentioned here, but it wasn't enough to save the movie.

[Anthropophagus]

I hate to admit it, but I did not enjoy this movie nearly as much on second viewing. I actually found it hard to stay awake.

[aoiookami]

Whew, I was beginning to think I was the only one who found this film completely and utterly average. Extremely predictable, and not 1 bit believeable. It's one of my pet peeves when movies use the 'we've been killing people for years, scot free' angle. It's must be a a good thing these multiple victims didn't have any family, or friends, or records of existence so their disappearances aren't investigated.
Also the ending was crap, rushed, anticlimactic and predictable.

[Ash28M]

It's one of my pet peeves when movies use the 'we've been killing people for years, scot free' angle. It's must be a a good thing these multiple victims didn't have any family, or friends, or records of existence so their disappearances aren't investigated.

The Texas Chain Saw massacre played the same angle. I have no problem with it. There have been serial killers who have hid there victims in and under there homes for years and didn't get caught.

[fceurich39]

was alright nothing great

[aoiookami]

The Texas Chain Saw massacre played the same angle. I have no problem with it. There have been serial killers who have hid there victims in and under there homes for years and didn't get caught.
I'm sure had those homes been hotel-gas stations on a single isolated road that multiple people suddenly disapear while driving past, they would have been found out alot sooner

[dwatts]

Man, I read this thread as making the highest recommendation for this movie. Excellent. I can't wait to grab this one. :D

[dwatts]

As is your constant sarcasm. Keep it going. :lol:

[Katatonia]

It wasn't too bad, worth a rental. I swear they ripped off Mountaintop Motel Massacre though! :lol:

[Agent Z]

Man, I read this thread as making the highest recommendation for this movie. Excellent. I can't wait to grab this one. :D

As is your constant sarcasm. Keep it going. :lol:

:hum:

A page was ripped from this book? Oh well....

[onebyone]

:hum:

A page was ripped from this book? Oh well....

The missing page..

In two to three years when you watch the movie, be sure to post a long review. Those are always good for a laugh.

Apparently, my quick delete skills need work.

[dwatts]

Serves me right for logging on at 5:00am. :lol:

[dmeister]

I'm sure had those homes been hotel-gas stations on a single isolated road that multiple people suddenly disapear while driving past, they would have been found out alot sooner
You seem to have a terribly high opinion of law enforcement, given the large number of unsolved murders and disappearances every year. ;)

dmeister

[Jamm]

I certainly did not think this was an on the edge of your seat thriller. It was more a "relaxing on the couch, checking the timer on the dvd player often" kind of thriller. It had a *few* moments where it worked, but otherwise, it all seemed very average to me.
My thoughts exactly. We finally watched this last night, but instead of checking the timer, I was knitting a pair of gloves.

Whew, I was beginning to think I was the only one who found this film completely and utterly average.
I know what you mean. I refrained from this thread entirely until I watched the movie and I couldn't believe some of the praise it was getting.

However, the rest of your post:
Extremely predictable, and not 1 bit believeable. It's one of my pet peeves when movies use the 'we've been killing people for years, scot free' angle. It's must be a a good thing these multiple victims didn't have any family, or friends, or records of existence so their disappearances aren't investigated.
Also the ending was crap, rushed, anticlimactic and predictable.
while entirely true, seems to suggest a rather BELOW average movie!

[aoiookami]

while entirely true, seems to suggest a rather BELOW average movie!

Heheh you're right, looking back now I do definately think it was below average. Now that I think of it, there were lots of other parts that just pissed me right off, for example leaving the boyfriends body outside, in plain sight, broad daylight, for who knows how long, AFTER having killed a cop who had been dispatched to investigate several hours beforehand, and on top of that not even checking to see if the boyfriend was dead or not. I suppose they did have to set up for that perfect hollywood ending afterall...
For me that ranks with the top moments of absolute movie stupidity, along with Dreamcatchers 'I'd rather reach for toothpicks than protect my own life'.

[lakini71]

I finally watched this last night, and to my surprise, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. The second half of the movie is by-the-numbers all the way, but the first half I found genuinely frightening and intense. I usually detest Beckinsale, but here she was believable. So in short, it's not great, but it's definitely far from the crap I'd expected.

[baggio]

Extremely predictable,

What was extremely predictable?

Because that would would mean every action and outcome you knew before it happened. And I'm not talking about who was a bad guy or not?

And the ending. Explain how you knew all about the ending.


P.S. - I'm not trolling or being a wise guy. I'm serious. Would just like to know. Sure there was stuff in the movie that the average moviegoer would figure out. Like who was the bad guy... But extremely? Please specify. How would you change it? I have some changes of my own that I would do for this movie.

[aoiookami]

well, as you mentioned already the badguys are stupidly obvious the second they appear on screen, but thats a given.
I knew the girl would survive the entire ordeal and end up being the 'hero' because they tried so hard to play her up as a whiny wimp that follows the guy around the entire time. As soon as they left the boyfriends body out in the open I knew he would live. They try so hard to potray the 'unhappy couple' during the begining it become obvious they are going to make peace/ fall in love again at some point, which also hints at one, or both of them surviving, eliminating the fear of either of them dying. I knew that cop wouldnt be able to help them since he came into the story way too early. I knew even attempting to run for the phone was useless because it would either be dead, or the badguy on the other end, so that entire scene of 'I'm gonna go run for the phone' was boring as hell for me. And the old 'crawl towards the gun on the floor to shoot the badguy and kill him' scene, I mean c'mon

As far as the ending I wouldnt make it a typical happy hollywood 'thank god you're alive even though you've been violently stabbed in the torso and bleeding all night, and thanks to this experience our relationship is on better terms' ending. Also the both of them were like helpless children running around for the entire movie but suddenly within the span of like 4 minutes the girl is able to dispose of all the villains all by herself, 2 of them withing the very same scene, very anticlimactic.

[baggio]

well, as you mentioned already the badguys are stupidly obvious the second they appear on screen, but thats a given.
I knew the girl would survive the entire ordeal and end up being the 'hero' because they tried so hard to play her up as a whiny wimp that follows the guy around the entire time. As soon as they left the boyfriends body out in the open I knew he would live. They try so hard to potray the 'unhappy couple' during the begining it become obvious they are going to make peace/ fall in love again at some point, which also hints at one, or both of them surviving, eliminating the fear of either of them dying. I knew that cop wouldnt be able to help them since he came into the story way too early. I knew even attempting to run for the phone was useless because it would either be dead, or the badguy on the other end, so that entire scene of 'I'm gonna go run for the phone' was boring as hell for me. And the old 'crawl towards the gun on the floor to shoot the badguy and kill him' scene, I mean c'mon

As far as the ending I wouldnt make it a typical happy hollywood 'thank god you're alive even though you've been violently stabbed in the torso and bleeding all night, and thanks to this experience our relationship is on better terms' ending. Also the both of them were like helpless children running around for the entire movie but suddenly within the span of like 4 minutes the girl is able to dispose of all the villains all by herself, 2 of them withing the very same scene, very anticlimactic.

well, as you mentioned already the badguys are stupidly obvious the second they appear on screen, but thats a given.
I knew the girl would survive the entire ordeal and end up being the 'hero' because they tried so hard to play her up as a whiny wimp that follows the guy around the entire time. I kinda disagree there
I thought she was the opposite, wanting to stay overnight in the car and all instead of the motel.
As soon as they left the boyfriends body out in the open I knew he would live. They try so hard to potray the 'unhappy couple' during the begining it become obvious they are going to make peace/ fall in love again at some point, which also hints at one, or both of them surviving, eliminating the fear of either of them dying. I will agree with you on that point.
I knew that cop wouldnt be able to help them since he came into the story way too early. Another point I agree with.

I knew even attempting to run for the phone was useless because it would either be dead, or the badguy on the other end, so that entire scene of 'I'm gonna go run for the phone' was boring as hell for me. Not sure about that myself. I mean they did show that in the trailer. Which was stupid thing to do. So how the hell you figured it would be him on the other end of phone when they called the cops I guess you were thinking too hard, to find a fault.:lol:

Stuff I liked: I thought myself thetrucker was going to get killed, it was a nice touch for him to be the guy picking up the tapes. It made the film creepier knowing that this is what they do with the tapes. The fact that at the end Whaley didn't jump up. I was waiting for the other thug on the roof of the car to be alive thou. I liked the fact that when they got into the police car they sat in the front & not the back(where everybody always gets trapped back there0 that was different.

I wish they added more on the other killer (not Ethan Embry), he could have been the "Dwight Yoakam" in this movie. The two of them didn't say anything. Then again maybe thats what was supposed to be scary about them. Also they could have added a third or 4th guy. And scraped the underground passageways. "the guy at every door theory"

All in all if they fixed a couple of things it would have boosted this film up a notch or 2 IMO

[onebyone]

And just like that, baggio puts more thought into the movie than anyone involved seemd to. :lol:

I think the movie was extremely predictable too. A few minutes in and you pretty much knew everything that was going to happen. A lot of movies are like that though, and I like several of them actually. I can let a lot slide if you can convince me to care if the leads live or die, and here, I couldn't have cared less. The killers were stupid and bland. The "heroes" were stupid and bland to the point of being blank sheets of paper. I say blow the whole damn place up and move on.

[baggio]

And just like that, baggio puts more thought into the movie than anyone involved seemd to. :lol:

I think the movie was extremely predictable too. A few minutes in and you pretty much knew everything that was going to happen. A lot of movies are like that though, and I like several of them actually. I can let a lot slide if you can convince me to care if the leads live or die, and here, I couldn't have cared less. The killers were stupid and bland. The "heroes" were stupid and bland to the point of being blank sheets of paper. I say blow the whole damn place up and move on.

I can't help it. It bothers me when I see a finished film like this. It had potential. I sit and wonder "they were ok with that?" Thats why I don't blame films that are super low budgeted that have well unexpirenced directors. At least they try with what they have. Not utililizing talent/actors at hand is a waste. Whats the point of making a film. I will have to say seeing Whaley in this role was fun.

I have a habit of doing this alot. During the movie my mind was thinking of different scenerios all the time. Even during great movies. Always thinking how can this be better. Watching movies is alot of work for me.:)

By the way did you get the Dwight reference?

[booper71]

some obvious Mountaintop Motel Massacre elements.

[Katatonia]

some obvious Mountaintop Motel Massacre elements.

:lol: Glad someone finally agrees!

[MorallySound]

some obvious Mountaintop Motel Massacre elements.

My girlfriend said the same thing. "They totally ripped off Mountaintop Motel Massacre!!!!"

[Hellbilly]

My girlfriend said the same thing. "They totally ripped off Mountaintop Motel Massacre!!!!"
Totally! :lol:

I liked Vacancy even though I knew exactly what was going to happen. Besides the obvious "Hostel-Light" and Mountaintop Motel Massacre influence the movie reminded me of 'slashers' from the 80s.
My rating would have been 3/5 (good) but since my future wife Kate is in this, she always gets the extra point in any movie she's in so 4/5 it is :)

[dwatts]

Saw this tonight (finally). I must say, I thought this was pretty damn good. As a thriller it pushes most, if not all, the buttons, and it's got plenty of tension. Sure it's formulaic, but then most films are these days. As far as execution goes, this one pulled it off.

Turn the surround up good and loud, let Paul Haslinger's excellent soundtrack fill the room, and enjoy the crash bang and wallops of this harmless little thriller. One you could watch with the wife no less.

Pretty damn good methinks.

[fattyjoe37]

This one was a real surprise. Nothing great, but not the abomination I thought it would be based on the previews and cast.

[dwatts]

Exactly. It's not trying to rewrite the genre or anything, and it's only 1:20 long, so it doesn't get boring. It's just a crash bang bit of cinema - couple thrills, a little bit of violence, a little humn interest..... then over with. Low budget stuff this - by Hollywood standards. Ain't nothing wrong with that on a cold winters night.

[onebyone]

"Not a total abomination" and "not too long" should have totally been on the cover of the Vacancy DVD.

[The Chaostar]

You must check Kontrol by the same director. A wonderful thriler.

Vacancy is pretty good too.

[dwatts]

Thanks for that, Chaoster. Given how much fun this movie was I'll do just that and try to check it out. If it's as tight as this one it should be fun.

[_pi_]

I thought this was pretty enjoyable. I agree that the characters were annoyingly bland and ... annoying, and sometimes I just can't understand why a screenwriter will bother to write a script when he has no interesting characters at all ...

That said, I still felt the tension was tight in a few places. I even jumped once, which is always a good thing. I can't say I was really invested in the plot or how it turned out, but there were a few moments where I was like "oh you stupid bitch/jerk, why the hell are you doing that?!?", which means two things: 1) this film was not very well written and 2) it still worked for me.

Kudos to the director. And cinematographer. Everyone else ... not such a good job.