Movie Reviews - Vacancy

Robert's Review

"Vacancy" is incredibly predictable and it's sad to see such good actors starring in such a bad movie. The acting was good, but the plot was terrible… and the characters were slow to catch on to things that were no-brainers. For example: David and Amy go nearly the entire movie without a weapon in their hands, yet the motel room is full of useful things such as heavy lead pipes in the bathroom (i.e. the towel rack and shower curtain rod) or shards of glass from the mirrors or TV set, etc. In addition, the killers were just silly and a lot of the stuff they did put them at serious risk for no reason. Finally, the ending really pushed this movie over the edge and off the cliff for me… I won't spoil it, but suffice to say that it's perhaps one of the cheesiest endings I've seen in a long time. Oh, and don't even get me started on the character conflict between David and Amy… there's a whole subplot about how they lost their child (yet it's never really explained why – most of the dialog is mumbled when they're talking about it) and now they can't stand to be around each other anymore. Overall, it's now quite easy to see why this movie has had so much advertising (their ads and trailers have been all over every horror website and previewed before almost every other movies for the last 4-6 weeks) they're trying to save a sinking ship… they know this movie isn't very good… and they figure throwing more money at it will create enough hype to possibly save it.

All in all, I'd give this movie 1.5 STARS (out of 5). Re-watch value: NONE

"Vacancy" is a movie that should have followed the title and stayed Vacant. When Rob and I went to see this film the vacant parking lot and the many vacant seats in the theatre should have forewarned us of what we were about to see. 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.

First let's talk about what was bad about the movie; it foreshadowed everything which in turn made it very predictable. The cinematography was not very well done; the acting on the snuff flicks was horrible (Almost like they had to do several takes to get it right, instead of trying to make it look real). As for the A-list actors Wilson and Beckinsale their performance was admirable but overall it just couldn't help the film. The plot, like the title, had many vacant holes in it. Of all the people killed, not one family member bothered to check anything out for years and there are many more holes I could go into but it would lead to spoilers. As far as the ending goes, well that was the one thing that just pushed this movie over the edge and made it fall and smash against the rocks below (if you see it you will know what I mean.) I felt strangely disappointed with this movie because I like Beckinsale and Wilson, but in the end even they couldn't carry this movie (yet another Hollywood attempt to bring good actors into a bad movie so the movie might stand a chance.)

I predict many vacant seats in the theatres for this film.

Overall Rating: 1.5 Stars (out of 5). Re-Watch Value: None (If you must see it, save $10.00 and rent it or get it on Cable)

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