Review of The Vault (2017) by Kevin P — 21 Mar 2018

Strengths: I'll mention it almost every single time I review one, but I love a good heist film. I also love when you can take something I like and find a way to put a twist on it, which is what this movie does. You take a heist story and add the horror element. This film excels in using suspense to build tension in the early stages, then does a great job with the horror style stuff towards the end. The entities haunting the vault are truly creepy looking. As far as performances go, Francesa Eastwood (Leah) steals the show. She's very good and feels like the most important character of the film.

Weaknesses: Looking at the cast list, you see names like James Franco (Ed), Taryn Manning (Vee) and Clifton Collins Jr. (Detective Iger). However, things don't really go the way you'd want with it. Franco feels like he's just there so the film can have a big star attached. He just sits there and doesn't really do anything. Manning's character is too much of a stereotype who brings nothing new to the table, while Collins is super underutilized. But, my biggest gripe with the movie was that there didn't seem to be much of a motive behind the ghosts. Something happened in the past and they just happen to be there. That needed to be fleshed out much more.

Overall: It's one of the best concepts you'll find anywhere, it just doesn't get executed as well as it could have. Actors like Franco don't seem to be used very well and the script needed a bit more ironing out. That being said, the horror elements are very well done and you get kind of pulled into what's going on and how it will all end. An enjoyable experience that could've been better.