Warning - "Vacancy" [Archive] - Audio & Video Forums

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Worf101
09-06-2007, 04:25 AM
When renting multiples at the local Block Buster, I usually get one scary movie or "chop schlock" just to either get goosebumps or, see how many new and inventive ways they've discovered to kill American Teenagers (re, "Final Destination" series). I saw this movie "Vacancy" and decided to take a chance.

B-List actors Luke Wilson and Kate Beckensale play your typical, lost, fighting, soon to be divorced couple that wind up in a rural motel. Yawn, nothing new. Both leads try to do some "acting" but can't muster much more than cliches. Only Frank Whaley as the manevolent manager is the only saving grace acting wise.

The first half hour is pretty suspenseful despite all the dumb coincedences and cliches and it manages to suck you in to a level where you care about the dumb leads. But then things go strictly to script and ends at a smarmy Hollywood ending.

I give it a "C-Plus" for the first 40 minutes. What I want to warn you about however is the hook in this movie and one of its "Special Features".

SPOILER ALERT
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SPOILER ALERT!!!!!

The entire film revolves around the premise that people who check into this remote Hotel are filmed in their rooms while being murdered by the sons of Micheal Myers. These snuff's are then sold bootleg cross country and round the world. The first you know of their existence and the Motel's gruesome sideline is when the two main characters find the flicks in their room and, thinking that its porn, begin to watch them only to slowly realize that the murders are real and take place where they're standing.

The whole reason for my warning is this. In the special features, the producers string together all the snuff videos and play them at full length. This is without a doubt some of the most disturbing chit I've ever seen on celluloid. I'm surprised that this film isn't NC-17 due the graphic and disgusting nature of the deat scenes. I recommend that no one rent this film or if you do DO NOT look at that particular section of the bonus.

I've served my country in peace and war, garrison and field. I grew up in the Housing Projects of New York City. I saw death and assault at a very early age. Still I was repulsed, disturbed and disgusted by this film. I know my warning will prompt some here to watch this film and the bonus. But hopefully, I may steer one person away from this filth.

End of Rant

Hops off of Soapbox.

Da Worfster

kexodusc
09-06-2007, 06:11 AM
Geez...if Worfster went out of his way to protest repulsive goar and tasteless sex scenes, it MUST have been aweful....

Thanks for the heads up...

Worf101
09-06-2007, 08:06 AM
Geez...if Worfster went out of his way to protest repulsive goar and tasteless sex scenes, it MUST have been aweful....

Thanks for the heads up...
NOT Sex, graphic violence the repeated stabbings of un-armed people over and over and over again. Similated to be sure... but meant to depict actual footage.

Da Worfster

SlumpBuster
09-06-2007, 11:06 AM
Yeah, I rented this Vacancy this weekend, too. Had a chiller thriller weekend with Wes Craven's first movie Last House on the Left, Eli Roth's Cabin Fever, and Vacancy. I'm assuming that if you are reading this then I don't need to defend slasher movies in general and that you agree there are good and bad examples of the genre.

I kinda knew that Last House on the Left was considered a classic and the inspiration for alot of the so-called "torture porn" that has come out lately. But, and I'm being dead serious, I though it was a haunted house movie. It is not. It has a picture of a scary old house on the front and is called The Last House on the Left. Admittedly, I did not read the back of the box. But, it is really about the abduction, rape and murder of two teenage girls. The motivation of the abduction is random and non-existent. It is shot in a documnetary style. The violence is graphic. The movie is awful. My wife walked out and I admit I fast forwarded thru just to see where they went with it.

Another infamous movie of a similar vein is I Spit On Your Grave. Both of these movies seem to have come out at a time when there was a chasm between Hollywood testing the limits of censorship, and the mainstreaming of women's rights. These movies are mysogynistic and transparent in their hatred and abuse of women. I consider them to be missteps in a Hollywood that was learning how to stretch its legs with sex and violence.

Jump to Cabin Fever. I really enjoyed this movie. I had enjoyed Eli Roth's Hostel and his trailer in Grindhouse. I thought his movies portray a sense of humor and self knowledge. Cabin Fever was strongly influenced by Last House on the Left, Roth even used some of the same soundtrack. There is a scene in the movie where the main character crashes his car into a deer and it comes through the windshield, legs kicking and blood spraying. In the special features, Roth says everyone gave him sh!t about that scene saying it would play like the deer/car scene in Tommy Boy. Roth's response was "Hey, this happens 80 minutes into the movie, if they're still in their seats, then they'll be on board for the deer scene." He was right, it was every thing a good slasher should be. Fun and engaging with some good suspense, shocks, gross outs, and even a nice redeeming message about good samaritanism and karma. My wife and I both liked it. The controversy around Hostel 2 has got me intruiged and it will be at the top of my Netflix queue.


Vacancy caused some discussion and we couldn't decide if it was good or not. In played a bit like the wonderful Red Eye. You could tell they were attempting a taught thriller about a chase in a confined space. Worf is right. The "snuff" footage was unreal in it realness. It was disturbing, even the parts that were included in the movie. I did not watch the special features and missed what Worf is talking about. But, knowing that it is there sheds new light on the movie. IMO, the movie was made solely as a vehicle for the snuff. The snuff stands out like sore thumb. Its almost as if someone shot the snuff and said "Holy chit! Look what I can do/did! I gotta do something with this." Worf is right, this may only be for the truely strong of stomach. It is truely grim.

Worf101
09-07-2007, 03:43 AM
Vacancy caused some discussion and we couldn't decide if it was good or not. In played a bit like the wonderful Red Eye. You could tell they were attempting a taught thriller about a chase in a confined space. Worf is right. The "snuff" footage was unreal in it realness. It was disturbing, even the parts that were included in the movie. I did not watch the special features and missed what Worf is talking about. But, knowing that it is there sheds new light on the movie. IMO, the movie was made solely as a vehicle for the snuff. The snuff stands out like sore thumb. Its almost as if someone shot the snuff and said "Holy chit! Look what I can do/did! I gotta do something with this." Worf is right, this may only be for the truely strong of stomach. It is truely grim.

Thanks man, I'm glad I'm not the only one repulsed by this. I've been reading view reviews on the net though and not as many people were upset about this aspect of the film as I'd hoped. Ominous sign I suppose for ominous times. Thanks for reviews of the other films. I'll have to rent "Cabin Fever" sometime.

Da Worfster

JSE
09-07-2007, 05:56 AM
Worf, I have to disagree with you 100%.

Kate Beckensale is no "b'lister" just based on her looks alone! She looks Puuurdy! :arf: