Review of Vacancy (1999) by Petri P — 19 Apr 2009

You would think that Hollywood horror would steer well clear of basing their movies in motels. After all, what possible chance have you of bettering the greatest horror of them all, Psycho. You're already inviting comparisons you don't have a chance of living up to. Vacancy gives it a bloody good shot though.

It's no Psycho, but this is a superior horror in many respects and it's brief running time only means that the white knuckle stuff never really lets up.

Kate Beckinsdale and Luke Wilson are very believable as the couple on the brink of divorce who stumble unwittingly into a motel where snuff movies are made. They are both extremely convincing and do have a great deal of good chemistry. This is like gold in horror movies, as we actually feel like we can sympathise with the characters and identity is sometimes the key to effective scariness and in Vacancy this works brilliantly.

The majority of the movie is frantic, bloody, surprising and incredibly tense. Even as the end credits roll, you still don't feel like it's safe.

There are some great obvious nods to Psycho. The opening titles and music are a direct tribute to Hitchcock and the Motel office is decorated with many stuffed birds. It's tongue in cheek stuff. The makers know they aren't doing the most original thing in the world so better to pay tribute.

Vacancy is a real winner as a horror, genuinely terrifying with slow burning tension and jump scares galore.