Forgotten Horror - Vacancy (2007)

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! Realising 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.

Writer Mark L. Smith stated that he used to live in Colorado with his wife and they would often drive down to New Mexico. During these drives, they would see all these isolated motels in the middle of nowhere that never seemed to be busy or have anyone staying in them. He often wondered how these places stayed in business year on year, and that is how he came up with the idea for this movie.

I was on the edge of my seat for most of this movie, suspense and tension are high from the start of the movie and it never feels cheap. The characters seem very genuine and real, the relationship between the two main characters is portrayed very well considering some of the stories that came out from behind the scenes.

Wilson and Beckinsale come off as a real couple throughout and the writing of the characters is done extremely well. Another thing I noticed is that they aren’t your typical brainless genre characters who get naked and drop to the floor whenever danger approaches them. For most of the film they do exactly what you might think you would if you were in the same situation.

Overall, “Vacancy” is a quite original horror/thriller flick that would remind you of the feeling of JoyRide or The Hitcher maybe. It is heavy on suspense while not focusing on gore that much. The atmosphere of dread and anxiety that builds up throughout this movie is the great gold, and should have you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what is around the next turn.

It’s the way these movies should be done, not re-inventing the genre or anything but does EXACTLY what it was supposed to do! This one has been forgotten completely and makes for an enjoyable late night horror flick. Go in blind and this movie will exceed your expectations!

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