Review of Vacancy (1999) by Matt R — 31 Jul 2009

I have put off watching this film for far too long. Hell, there is even a sequel out before I got around to it. Which is a shame really as it is perhaps one of the best new Horror films I've seen.

The back of the box claimed "Vacancy" to be a 'mixture of "Psycho" and "Saw" ' (Both films that I adore) so I was already put off about this film. After watching it though, that description is absolutely perfect. "Vacancy" takes a lot of throw back Horror elements and modernizes them with some of the new trends in the genre (aka Torture films) and it works wonderfully.

What I liked best about "Vacancy" is that the director and script had its priorities straight. This isn't a movie about twists or how clever it can be to trick the audience. This film isn't about how much gore it can show or how much nudity it can sneak in. This film is straight forward to the audience. It's a basic Horror story, a couple that is on the rocks with their marriage breaks down in po-dunk fuckstick middle of nowhere and comes across and hotel with an owner of murderous intent, that focuses on the relationship of the protagonists and creating an atmosphere of terror and suspense. This throwback style of Horror that focuses on the atmosphere is what makes this a great watch as it really drags the viewer into the mix whether they want to or not. Bravo on blending the new and the old together Nimrod (no seriously that's the director's name).

Acting wise we get some great portrayals from Wilson and Beckinsale as the main couple with both of them doing roles that we haven't necessarily seen from them before. At times I felt that some of the humor from Wilson was a little forced but other than that I was pretty impressed.

I think that this film just had the balancing act down pact of the best of the old and the new. It's where it ultimately succeeds on most levels and it's what made this a pretty great watch. Definitely going to have to check out the prequel now (even though we know who it turns out).

Note: Am I the only one that dug the Hitchcockian title sequence? I thought that was awesome!!