Vacancy (2007)

I was very much looking forward to this one at the theater, because it looked so interesting on the trailers. When it pretty much bombed at the box office, I lost hope for it. When it finally came to DVD (somewhat under the radar), I decided it was at least worth a rental.

I turned out to be very surprised and impressed with this movie overall. It’s rather short – 85 minutes – but that only serves as a means to keep the action and tension going for the entire movie. Once it picks up, about 15-20 minutes in, it doesn’t slow down until the credits roll.

I won’t divulge the plot, as it’s rather simple, but enough to keep you doing a little guessing. Revealing the plot would also take away some of the “shock” the movie conveys so well. Nothing in this movie should be scary or cause you to be on the edge of your seat…after all, it’s something we’ve seen in thrillers many times before. That’s what made the experience so fun for me – somehow it is scary and somehow it does manage to keep you tense.

Part of that comes from the unknown – the whole movie takes place in the middle of the night in a very cramped motel room. There is a very claustrophobic atmosphere where the viewer feels like they are right there with the protagonists. You can only see and know as much as the characters see and know – and when you’re stuck in an unknown location, that’s not too much.

I would definitely suggest picking this one up if you are a fan of thrillers. The violence is actually kept to a minimum, and the movie relies on fear to keep it moving. Be warned that if you (or anyone sharing the experience) is prone to jump or scream, you’ll definitely have your hands full.

Recommendation: If thrillers are your thing, this is not one to miss. It does have some obvious flaws and very cliche moments, but its still a fun flick.

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