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Vacancy (2007)

Director: Nimród Antal

2

Time Out rating

Average user rating
22 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

When their car breaks down just outside Nowheresville, USA, bickering couple Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale have no alternative but to bed down at the seedy local motel. And…? With a set-up that familiar, a half-decent twist’s clearly required, so, as the couple kick back, hubby finds a seemingly discarded videotape, which reveals that the very room in which they’re staying has been used by the proprietor to shoot snuff movies with understandably unwilling previous guests. Clearly, they’re next in line unless they can outwit their tormentors.Sadly, that’s just about the point where the picture runs out of juice, degenerating into a mechanical exercise in shunting the characters around from set-piece to set-piece, yet, with only two potential victims with which to toy, the story options prove predictably limited. Creepy motel manager Frank Whaley’s the pick of a relatively able cast, and Hungarian director Nimród Antal (who made the stylish ‘Kontroll’ in Budapest) throws the camera around with abandon, but all concerned are on a hiding to nothing since the material’s so flimsy and underdeveloped. It’s not pretty, but it’s certainly vacant.

Author: Trevor Johnston 2007-06-12 10:15:57

Time Out London Issue 1921: June 13-19 2007


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User reviews of this film

  • Holly_x said...
    Posted on Aug 20 2007 14:30 This Films Mint Part From Is Scary, I Think Dey Will Bring A numba 2 Out..I Hope
    Report as inappropriate
  • Leona Luk said...
    Posted on Aug 12 2007 18:38 I was curious about this film because the standard 'who are they?' cast was not in this - there were actual actors, people we've all heard of populating it, so I decided to take a look.
    I found that it's not the standard torture and kill film that has been so popular recently. Instead it's like a chamber drama with some extra blood and guts. There are standard plot elements from the gore films, however within the confines of this film they because something else - tenser, even more realistic to an extent.
    For what I expected, this was way better and worth a look.
    Report as inappropriate
  • Hollie..<3 said...
    Posted on Jul 24 2007 10:36 This film is great loved it xx but the ending was a bit crap xx
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  • caz said...
    Posted on Jul 11 2007 23:09 i thought the film was really good me n ma pal thought it was but my other two pals fought it was rubbish its a really jumpy film.
    Report as inappropriate
  • happy said...
    Posted on Jul 07 2007 12:50 fantastic script and well acted. completly enjoyed it!
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  • samuelm said...
    Posted on Jul 05 2007 19:09 rubbish film
    Report as inappropriate
  • ellie said...
    Posted on Jul 03 2007 14:03 i thought the film had a few good jumps
    scary at times but the film needede a beta ending for them to make a vacancy 2!!!!!!!!!!!
    Report as inappropriate
  • mr x said...
    Posted on Jul 02 2007 02:03 it was apsalute shyte!
    Report as inappropriate
  • D Richards said...
    Posted on Jul 01 2007 10:52 if your going to do the "murderer in a hotel" film then at least give it a good twist
    Report as inappropriate
  • Rachel n Rich said...
    Posted on Jun 30 2007 17:39 Amazin film but needed a better ending x
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  • kyle, manchester said...
    Posted on Jun 30 2007 17:16 amazin, unpredictable all the way. couldnt have got a better endin even if it was spielberg.
    Report as inappropriate
  • anonamous said...
    Posted on Jun 30 2007 15:12 Was a dedli film bt needed a bta endin..!! x x x x x
    Report as inappropriate
  • annonamus said...
    Posted on Jun 30 2007 14:42 i think the fiml wz amazin wud luv 2 wach it gain !! it wz a bit of a rubbish end tho !!!
    Report as inappropriate
  • GAZ said...
    Posted on Jun 30 2007 12:14 Vacancy Yes there was one in my pocket where the 6 quid was
    Report as inappropriate
  • GAZ said...
    Posted on Jun 30 2007 12:10 Im sorry it was a total waste of time and money. Very predictive boring and Kates character annoyed the pants off me
    Report as inappropriate
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Cast & crew

Director: Nimród Antal

Producer: Hal Lieberman

Cast: Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale, Frank Whaley, Ethan Embry full cast

Genre(s): Horror, Thrillers

Rated: 15

Duration: 85 mins

UK Release: Jun 15 2007




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