Vacancy Review

I put off watching Vacancy for a long time because of its poor reviews.  But, I finally managed to get through Hostel and Hostel 2 and being very disappointed with those films despite their positive reputations, I gave Vacancy a shot.   I was pleasantly surprised for much of the film.

Not my first choice of performers for this type of role, I still believe that big-name actors cannot do horror effectively because they lose their sincerity, I did believe Wilson and Beckinsale's performances.  The idea of a hotel room used to make snuff films with each new guest (s) finding out the room's purpose and still suffering the fate of a brutal death was a new twist in the torture horror subgenre.  I did find the people a little pathetic.  Especially those in the videos, watching them killed while they basically begged or stood there and let it happen.  Talk about not fighting for your life!

Our two new victims/guests also do not fight, but instead run and evade their attackers until a final confrontation sequence (that is stretched out a bit too long for me) and then a poor resolution.  The phone call for help doesn't sound like it is being genuinely received and you wonder what will happen next.  You're left wondering. 

A good start, solid middle, bad ending.  But an entertaining film if you are watching several, I wouldn't have this film anchor your evening or be the sole purpose of it, but it can kick off your night.