Saturday, April 30, 2011

16. Vacancy


Title:        Vacancy 
Year:        2007
Genre:      Breakdown
Type:        A-Movie
Run Time: 85
Theatrical MPAA Rating: R-Rated

Director: Nimród Antal 
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Watch Movie


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Trailer


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Synopsis

When David (Luke Wilson) and Amy Fox's (Kate Beckinsale) car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, they are forced to spend the night at the only motel around, with only the TV to entertain them... until they discover that the low-budget slasher movies they're watching were all filmed in the very room they're sitting in. 

With hidden cameras now aimed at them... trapping them in rooms, crawlspaces, underground tunnels... and filming their every move, David and Amy must struggle to get out alive before whomever is watching them can finish their latest masterpiece.

Alternative Synopsis
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Personal Thoughts

I first saw this movie in theaters as part of a 3 movie marathon (28 Weeks Later, Disturbia and Vacancy) back in 2007. Every once and a while, a few of us will get together and spend the day in the theater, seeing back to back to back movies! It's fun if you can sit that long. Well nearly 4 years have past since seeing Vacancy for the first time, and I still enjoy it today, as much as I did back then (I should probably factor my little crush on Kate Beckinsale into the equation)!

If you've been around the block, and have seen a lot of horror films, then you are probably pretty familiar with the breakdown/backwoods formula by now. Traveling city folks pass through a small town. Traveling city folks breakdown and get stranded in the small town. Traveling city folks seek help in the small town, but traveling city folks instead, get killed in the small town. There are places, in some parts of the country (and the world) that should probably be avoid at all cost. Sometimes, its wiser to exercise patience and just stay on the interstate, rather than try and take these back road shortcuts that can only lead to trouble!

The Plot: A "soon to be divorced" couple is traveling through dark back roads and rural areas (per a decision to get off the interstate ... his decision, not hers) and find themselves broke down and stranded, having to spend the night in an old motel (a wretched place in the desolate town of God knows where)! Now in a fight for their lives, they must work together to stay alive and overcome the horrors that seek to prevent them from seeing the light of another day.




I actually really enjoyed this movie. One of the things I liked about it was how it was able to get its point across without having to rely on excessive amounts of blood guts and gore. A movie, in my opinion, doesn't always have to show all of the grisly details, in order to be effective. Vacancy is a prime example of this. I also thought the two lead characters gave strong performances in this one. Their relationship felt authentic, and their arguments sounded real ... They really sounded like a burnt out, bickering couple, well on the verge of calling it quits.




Is Vacancy Scary?

The situation itself is such a heinous one, to where it almost makes the movie scary on that alone. In my opinion, Vacancy's definitely a disturbing film. But different things scare different people. Movie's like this can really make a person think. And what a terrible thought it is, to be trapped, isolated and stalked -- just you and your spouse -- with no one else around to turn to for help. Being left to ponder on thoughts such as these, tend to scare me more than any gory visual movie FX's ever could. 

In all, Vacancy's a good one to watch if you like sitting through messed up, scary, uncomfortable situations! It's also a good one for horror fans who aren't gore fans, which is why I've decided to make it my 16th recommendation. It's dark, it's eerie, it's suspenseful, and most important, it gets in your head, and makes you think!



Review
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What I liked:

- The premise/idea
- The mood, atmosphere and setting
- The Acting
- Kate Beckinsale

What I didn't like:

- There's not much that I didn't enjoy about this movie
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My Ratings

How good was it:             

How scary was it:        


How much did I enjoy it:


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Vacancy Extras:

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You May Also Like:

The Strangers







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