Vacancy (2007)

Featured Audience Ratings

• John M

  
  Wasnt bad decent idea. I think the ending seemed just off a bit and not sure why.

• Phil H

  
  OK what's the point of this??? lol! its so stupid and hardly scary a tall. For a start it has Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale in it...now forgive me but Wilson is a comedy actor right? Beckinsale is an English rose with a vamp streak but hardly 'Hostel' style horror… More
  OK what's the point of this??? lol! its so stupid and hardly scary a tall. For a start it has Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale in it...now forgive me but Wilson is a comedy actor right? Beckinsale is an English rose with a vamp streak but hardly 'Hostel' style horror victim. Neither of them fit the part of this film in the slightest, it just doesn't work, simple. The main baddie is laughable, not in the least bit scary, more 'Basil Fawlty' really lol! and his drones aren't explained either, why do they kill people? how they got into it, where they come from etc...they just turn up looking like 'Mike Myers'. There is no logic to the film, how could a motel survive when they kill their guests? where do they put the bodies? surely its abit suspicious? where do they put the dead guest's cars? the smell? and on top of that there are numerous occasions when Wilson and Becks could escape easily or take down some of the nutters, but all the time your just waiting for Wilson to say something silly and funny. The bottom line is the film just ain't scary, tense, creepy or gory in anyway and that includes the somewhat lame snuff movie clips you see, the whole film sinks with no survivors.

• Directors C

  
  It has a genius premise and a good director, you mix that in with the Hitchcock style of suspense and bloodshed restraint and what you get is Vacancy. The execution wasn't fantastic because it was very predictable and I thought the ending was deeply flawed but it's not a bad… More
  It has a genius premise and a good director, you mix that in with the Hitchcock style of suspense and bloodshed restraint and what you get is Vacancy. The execution wasn't fantastic because it was very predictable and I thought the ending was deeply flawed but it's not a bad film. It may be more than a bit silly but it made me jump and it creeped me out and these were the films intentions.

• Bethany M

  
  The men in this were really scary... that's what made it terryifying. The acting wasn't really that great and neither was the story!

• Sanjaya &

  
  Well, a little surprise knowing that the critics like it better than ordinary people for a type of movies like this... As a horror thriller movie, Vacancy was pretty good... At least the terror they gave in here was scary and I thought that the audiences can feel that too... Casting… More
  Well, a little surprise knowing that the critics like it better than ordinary people for a type of movies like this... As a horror thriller movie, Vacancy was pretty good... At least the terror they gave in here was scary and I thought that the audiences can feel that too... Casting Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale for this movie was a brilliant strategy, their performance were good in this movie, even the supporting cast that just a small number was giving their best in this movie... I can't say Vacancy was a good movie, but it wasn't a bad one too... So an average rating was a good deal because I was enjoy while watching this movie, even the story could be a little much better...

• Jeff "

  
  Vacancy is one awesome film to watch for a good scare. The Concept is very creative, and is one chilling and original film. Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson deliver strong performances and so does Frank Whaley who plays the creepy motel clerk, he's no Norman Bates, but he's… More
  Vacancy is one awesome film to watch for a good scare. The Concept is very creative, and is one chilling and original film. Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson deliver strong performances and so does Frank Whaley who plays the creepy motel clerk, he's no Norman Bates, but he's still pretty good. Vcancy is an awesome horror film with tense, creepy moments, this is one of Kate Beckinsale's better films as she hasn't done anything that great in the past. Vacancy is definitely not without it's flaws, but for the most part it's a film that returns to the roots of classic horror, meaning the film doesn't use any special CGI effects and trick. The film relies primarily on a solid story, filled tension and suspense. A good enough film to enjoy, and a fine return to classic horror.

• Dead A

  
  It was a bit lame. Not that good.

• Martin S

  
  I seems like a average This-seems-like-a-wierd-place-and-we-want-to-leave-but-we-stay-and-oh....there's-a-killer movie. But it was pretty good...and a little scary. Really captures the feeling of being deserted at the begining of the movie. It feels like your stuck there with… More
  I seems like a average This-seems-like-a-wierd-place-and-we-want-to-leave-but-we-stay-and-oh....there's-a-killer movie. But it was pretty good...and a little scary. Really captures the feeling of being deserted at the begining of the movie. It feels like your stuck there with them in the middle of nowhere (It's not a pleasent feeling). And it's a good thing that there isn't a lot of characters introduced at the begining. It really helps the feeling of being alone. So overall it's a good movie....but come on...Kate Beckinsale, Owen Wilsons brother...and a Gary Oldman wanna be (never can be) You Can't go wrong with that....It's set up for succes...

• Cassandra M

  
  Vacancy has Alfred Hitchcock's finger prints smeared all over it, in fact at several times, especially the quite nifty looking opening credits, seems a lot like a homage to the great horror maestro himself. Its true, that even many years after Hitchcok finished making movies,… More
  Vacancy has Alfred Hitchcock's finger prints smeared all over it, in fact at several times, especially the quite nifty looking opening credits, seems a lot like a homage to the great horror maestro himself. Its true, that even many years after Hitchcok finished making movies, that his movie still stay in memory for longer than most of the recent Hollywood horror that has arrived. The Birds and Psycho are far more memorable than the House of Wax remake or The Reaping. Hitchcock's movies worked because he had great characterisation and also a great sense of atmosphere, you could sit and watch a Hitchcock movie and be terrified for half an hour before anything scary actually happens. The sense of foreboding and incredibly skilfully done atmosphere did that to an audience. Nowadays we get cheap jump out of your seat scares and torture scenes designed to sicken. Initially my thoughts towards seeing Vacancy were not great, the trailer looked alright, but my guess was it would just be another lame, modern slasher flick. So what a great surprise to say that Vacancy is a good little movie that actually has some genuine scares in it. The movie isn't gory, nor is it jumpy, the movie is unsettling and creepy. Now this is what a true horror movie should do in my eyes, if a movie can unsettle without resorting to jump scares then it is a success. Vacncay pulls this off, well it pulls this off for a majority of the time. The movie is an absolute success until the ending, at the ending it seems to flounder a bit and leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. But everything up until the ending is a joy to watch. What surprised me most about Vacancy has to be the actual acting. When I saw the trailer and saw that Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson were the leading couple I nearly burst out laughing. For starters Luke Wilson is a comedy man, he's designed to make funny movies. Well when I say funny movies I mean if he has the right material as just recently I've found him as unfunny as can be. Kate Beckinsale just doesn't seem the type to be in a horror movie. But its this bizarre casting that pays off so well. Luke Wilson really proves himself in this movie, to the extent I want him to focus more on a serious acting career, he seems to be more at home here than he has in years with his comedy movies. Kate Beckinsale also proves herself admirably. The pair are believable, and you actually start to care for them. Wishing that they will escape the nightmare, hoping that they find a way out. Their performances are so much different from the usual stupid teenagers we see in horror movies today, its refreshing to see adults in this horrific situation. The villains of the movie are also quite menacing for the majority of the time, the hotel manager played by Frank Whaley is a good character. He's not on screen too often, but he does play a creepy little man very well. So what of the scares then? Well as I've said the movie is at times pretty scary. Not for the first twenty minutes mind you, that is dedicated for set up and too increase the atmosphere. Those scenes work very well and once again its refreshing to see genuine character development in a horror movie, made better by the fact the two leads are great. However, the minute the couple enter the hotel room the focus shifts. Bangings on the wall and doors begin, the phone rings with nobody on the other end. From that point onwards the movie gets terrifying, the bangings on the wall really starts to creep you out at one point. Once the big bad secret about the motel is discovered, after watching some tapes, and the lights suddenly go out. The movie succeeds in terrifying. After the lights go out I guarantee you will be sitting on the edge of your seats. The movie does a couple of jump scares here and there, but it focuses mainly on the unseen terror. The minute the bangings stopped you aren't relieved, you're even more terrified because then you don't know what the people are up to. Its this sense of terror that makes the movie worthy of a recommendation. Its nice to see a horror movie try scaring and unsettling the audience once in a while. Its nothing a hardcore horror fan can't handle, but it definitely will unsettle the general population of people. As I've said the movie isn't perfect. The ending being the major setback of the movie. After the brilliant set up, and the scary middle section, the ending seems to run out of steam. In fact it seemed like the writers wasn't sure what to do anymore and did a few obvious things and quickly ended the movie. It feels rushes and unlike the rest of the movie, unskillfully made. Its the ending that fails in making this a complete homage to Hitchcock, Hitchcock could deliver an ending, this movie doesn't really get an ending. The ending is enough to leave you satisfied, but in a movie that exceeds all expectations you expect more from the ending. Vacancy is a good old fashioned horror/thriller. Its only let down by its pretty disappointing ending. The run time is pretty short, making the experience short and sharp enough to pack a real punch. Its really worth checking out just for the brilliant set up and middle section. But the ending really does make the movie suffer a little bit. Still this is definitely a good horror movie, and more horror movies made in this style would be a welcome relief.

• KJ P

  
  Yes! It is filled with a cliche ridden script, however, I found myself mildly enjoying this piece of film!

• Jens S

  
  This mean little horror thriller doesn't need more than two characters stumbling into a not too unlikely scenario to get the adrenaline flowing. Without much gore or exaggeration it easily thrills and scares without ever taking the gory path so many films of the genre took in… More
  This mean little horror thriller doesn't need more than two characters stumbling into a not too unlikely scenario to get the adrenaline flowing. Without much gore or exaggeration it easily thrills and scares without ever taking the gory path so many films of the genre took in recent years. Wilson and Beckinsale play believable characters and do not lose any of the superficial, clichéd lines so often used in such movies. The result is short, mean and exciting, only the ending turns out to be a bit conventional. Still, worth a watch and much better than most other films with similar topics.

• Film C

  
  Its an alright thriller/horror fairly entertaining with some jumpy bits and creepy scenes! Great performances from Beckinsale and Wilson but it wasnt worth that much to go and see to be honest !!

• Coxxie M

  
  surprisingly not terrible

• Arash X

  
  Watchable but going from Kontroll to something like this is an unforgivable crime, Frank Whaley is fun to watch as usual

• _kelly .

  
  This was an uber effective and fun treatment with a special twist on the "went down the wrong road and got stuck with serial killers" movie. In this one, the backwards serial killers make marketed snuff from all their victims, and this film's two protagonist victims… More
  This was an uber effective and fun treatment with a special twist on the "went down the wrong road and got stuck with serial killers" movie. In this one, the backwards serial killers make marketed snuff from all their victims, and this film's two protagonist victims discover this fact while waiting for their death on the same "set". The tension built up great and stayed strong. I like that the layout of the set is easily communicated that I can visualize and make real the dimensions of the setting. The simplicity of the scares (the masks, the banging on the door, being watched by the killers) is effective. I like the physique of these killers, how they are so quick and flexible. The voyeur aspect of this film adds great dimension to it. I think the best thing about it is that the protagonists act (for the most part) pretty damn rationally; they do what we as the removed viewer can suggest they do and stay within the script (see Devil's Chair or Scream 2 for films that jump out of the script to guide the characters through horror). All of the acting is solid, and that's often a back-breaker for a survival horror. Just a solid flick. "Most fucked up" highlight: seeing the first snuff scenes on the room's TV set and watching the characters realize that they're in that room

• Candy R

  
  Very Hitchcock like movie. A couple's car breaks down and they have to stay in a low budget motel. They watch a snuff movie and realise it was filmed in the room they are staying in. They fear for their lives.

• Eric S

  
  Creepy film with Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson as a couple forced to stay in a remote hotel for the night after their car breaks down. David(Wilson) puts in tapes sitting on the TV that appear to be low-budget slasher films. Then they realize that the horror is taking place in the… More
  Creepy film with Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson as a couple forced to stay in a remote hotel for the night after their car breaks down. David(Wilson) puts in tapes sitting on the TV that appear to be low-budget slasher films. Then they realize that the horror is taking place in the very room where thay are residing. Frank Whaley delivers a sinister portrayal of a crazed motel manager that enjoys his sick, evil "entertainment" from the confines of his dingy office.

• Aaron N

  
  Mason: [pointing to Motel room] It's right there in the corner number 4. You might have to jiggle the handle a little bit to open her up, she's as sticky as an old whore. I wanted to see this movie, and I think the main reason is because I enjoy when movies stick Luke… More
  Mason: [pointing to Motel room] It's right there in the corner number 4. You might have to jiggle the handle a little bit to open her up, she's as sticky as an old whore. I wanted to see this movie, and I think the main reason is because I enjoy when movies stick Luke Wilson into various situations. He is just the average guy who you want to like, so this time we get to see him in a horror flick. The film stars Wilson and Kate Beckinsale (this time not dealing with Vampires) as a unhappily married couple, who's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. They wind up at an old motel with a quirky manager to take care of them. David Fox: Well, we're still alive. I can tell by the pissy look that you're giving me. Of course there is one huge problem. This particular motel has camera's hidden in the rooms, which are there to film the murder of the guests and later be edited into snuff films. Now the two must try and survive the night with seemingly no chance at escape. Mason: You'll never survive if you lose control Mr. Fox. The reason this gets a passing grade is because it is simple and effective. Its not giving you anything really new, just a fast paced flick with some thrills along the way. Its effectively enough made as well. It has a set tone that keeps the film in a kind of 70s thriller mode. The unnecessary, but flashy opening and closing credits, complete with the reveal that the director's first name is Nimrod, are also neat enough. What also certainly helps the movie is the performances by Wilson and Beckinsale. They play a couple ready to get divorced, and their bickering and eventual dependence on each other provides a good center point to the story. The manager, played by Frank Whaley, however does go over-the-top along with the ending of the movie. This really hits a strong "just decent" mark, but the movie is good enough to recommend. Amy Fox: Please, David, don't go out there! David Fox: Look, if we stay here, we're going to wind up like all of them.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"How can you escape...if they can see everything?"</i> David and Amy Fox find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere when their car breaks down. Luckily, they come across a motel with a TV to entertain them during their overnight stay. However,… More
  <i>"How can you escape...if they can see everything?"</i> David and Amy Fox find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere when their car breaks down. Luckily, they come across a motel with a TV to entertain them during their overnight stay. However, there's something very strange and familiar about the Grade-Z slasher movies that the motel broadcasts for its guests' enjoyment. They all appear to be filmed in the very same room they occupy! Realizing that they are trapped in their room with hidden cameras now aimed at them filming their every move, David and Amy desperately find a means of escape through locked doors, crawlspaces and underground tunnels before they too become the newest stars of the mystery filmmaker's next cult classic! <b><u>Review</u></b> Vacancy is not your typical horror movie. Almost all of these types of movies have the actors making stupid decisions, and getting themselves killed because of irrational decisions. Such as knowing there's a stranger in the house, and then taking a shower! Hello, you're asking to die, and anyone with a brain would have just left the house already. Vacancy is just the opposite. This was a well directed film, and the realism was portrayed with brilliant performances by Wilson and Beckinsale. The suspense is awesome, and is a film that any thrill seeker will enjoy.

• Tim S

  
  Here's the thing. I usually hate these movies and whole oh-shit-our-car-broke-down-and-now-we'll-have-to-stay-at-this-creepy-hotel-where-killers-run-it, but this is at least watchable. Luke Wilson actually is kind of a bad ass and Kate Beckinsale is hot as shit. Frank Whaley… More
  Here's the thing. I usually hate these movies and whole oh-shit-our-car-broke-down-and-now-we'll-have-to-stay-at-this-creepy-hotel-where-killers-run-it, but this is at least watchable. Luke Wilson actually is kind of a bad ass and Kate Beckinsale is hot as shit. Frank Whaley will always be creepy (I guess it's the Curb episode, but I always think of him as a child molester) and at the very least, the film know what it is and doesn't try to go above it's own head. Even though the ending is absolutely retarded (did you know you can survive a stab wound for over eight hours...me neither).

Read all 20 featured audience ratings