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Vacancy Directed by Nimrod Antal Written by Mark L. Smith Starring
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VACANCY is one of the most enjoyable movies I saw in the theater this year. It’s a lean, mean suspense machine capable of putting you on the edge of your seat for it’s entire 85-minute running time. A young couple is having marital problems and they must deal with one another on a long distance road trip. Unfortunately for them things get worse when their car breaks down on a lonely stretch of road. They are forced to spend the night at the Pinewood Motel, which could give the Bates Motel a run for its money. With only an old TV within the dilapidated hotel room, they end up watching a disturbing video clip of people who come under attack by violent masked men. As they are watching the sickening video, they come to realize that it was filmed in the same room they are staying in. Soon there is violent knocking on their front door and the walls by someone or something that doesn’t want them to leave. When I saw this movie in the theater, it was the first time I have ever heard an audience laugh at an onscreen name. When Director Nimrod Antal’s name came up on the screen, the audience burst into laughter. After seeing this movie, they should have changed that laughter into full-blown applause because the Hungarian filmmaker did a brilliant job of engineering suspense and terror. The film is very visual yet economical. Luke Wilson has never been really taken seriously as a dramatic actor but he does a fine job here of playing a husband on edge who will do what it takes to defend his and his wife’s lives. Kate Beckinsale is one of my favorites. She’s gorgeous and incredibly believable as an upset wife and most face the terror gauntlet thrown down in this film. Paul Haslinger creates a propulsive that is both terrifying and hip. DP Andrzej Sekula captures Antal’s vision with style and does so in a way not to draw to much attention to the camera techniques. Special Features include Checking In: Behind-the-Scenes of VACANCY which was fun for me and surprising to hear Nimrod Antal speak accent free. You can also watch the Extended Snuff Films and Deleted Scenes. If you are looking for a deep character piece this is not the film. But if you want to be frightened and run a race against terror, than VACANCY should be the next film you rent or purchase. | ||
