There's not much to say about me i'm afraid! (not good at reviewing me) x
There's not much to say about me i'm afraid! (not good at reviewing me) x
Member since:22.02.2006
Reviews:85
Members who trust:26
Vacancy is a movie which has Luke Wilson and Kate Beckingsale as its main parts David and Amy. The film is supposed to be a horror/thriller, but when I first saw it advertised on the television I really could not take the time to go down to my local cinema and watch it, for the following reasons: -
• There is a different horror movie realized every week and three quarters of them are pathetic and I don't enjoy. • Films come out on DVD so quickly that even if I wanted to watch it that much, it would be so much that I can't wait for its DVD release. • Kate Beckingsale is lovely and very beautiful, and Luke Wilson is one of my favourite actors (he and his brother Owen) but I couldn't personally see them pulling of the thriller story, especially not as a stage couple, don't ask, I just had a feeling! • The story line seemed strikingly familiar to a few films that I've already seen and not totally enjoyed, (mainly Hostel)
So I decided to wait and see if any of my friends went to see it and then I would be able to go one their view of the film, no one I knew went to see it, I think everyone is beginning to grow tired of going to the cinema only to be disappointed at what they've just spent £10 on!!
Anyway, I thought I'd say (after my babbling)
that I finally watched this film at a friends house at the weekend and I was so surprised at how much I had under-rated it, the fact that I expected nothing meant that everything good in the film was amplified.
Let me start the pros by saying, Kate, Luke, and Excellent acting! Absolutely brilliant. They play the awkward role of being a married couple, who have recently lost their son and who are about to file for a divorce (which is where they are headed when their car breaks down.) Amy is a very depressed and deeply affected character who it seems constantly moans at David and does not understand that talking about their dead son helps him to cope and actually keeps the memories alive. David is a comical character who clearly displays his love for his wife in the way he talks to her, but Amy is irritated by him and does not see that really he has a heart of gold (reminds me of my mum and dad in every way.)
The story starts off confusingly with a couple driving along talking about things that haven't been explained, this made the beginning quite slow for me, but after around 20 minutes, the film is in full swinging action. The whole bulk of the film is set in a hotel, which is run by a slightly odd looking man and doesn't seem to have any other occupants, the hotel room is filthy and complete with cockroaches (typical of most horror films) but the only difference in this hotel is the managers enjoyment of making snuff movies within the hotel walls, and selling them to people.
I am not going to outline the whole of the story as I do not want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it. However, I will say that the theme of the film is quite different in the end to any that I have seen before making it slightly more interesting than horror films that it is categorized with. However, the film does have its parts (the run up, in the beginning) which are so typical to a tacky horror movie, that I believe it may be the subject of a spoof movie. (Car breaking down, phone doesn't work, etc.) Although these parts make the film less original, I have to say that they are only small parts and therefore do not affect the success of the film that much.
Another benefit I found with this film is that although the theme is gory, and there are parts with blood and wounds, the scenery is not overly gory and disgustingly over the top on blood and guts (And eyeballs etc) this makes it pleasant to watch and far more realistic.
I watched this film with my friend and her mum and dad, who are in their 40's, they did not make any comment on how it's a 'teen horror' movie, nor did they leave the room due to all of the unnecessary language, sex and blood, because there wasn't any. I think that the component which made this film most scary was the amount of bits in it which made me jump. There are many jumpy bits which keep you pulse going and your mind enjoying the story.
The film keeps you gripped the whole way through and there is a slight sense of the 'cat and mouse' theme throughout the film which honestly kept me on edge and completely interested in what would happen next!
The extras of the DVD are basic but do hold some good content, they include: - • Deleted scenes • The making of… • A trailer gallery • Full versions of the snuff movies which are included in the film
The scenes in the film are all very realistic, nothing is that dramatic and therefore there is no need to comment on the special effects as it was completely unnoticeable! The effects of people getting killed or injured does look realistic and as I have previously stated, no one is killed in a completely unrealistic gross way which must have made it easier to make, and more effective to view.
I also don't have any particular recollection of the sound track and therefore it was not significant to me. In all honesty, the only films which I am bothered if they have a sound track or not are romantic movies or action and dramatic movies. If it's a horror then the odd bit of creepy music is really enough to satisfy me, otherwise I think it makes the film even more cheesy and less scary..which let's face it, is not what the director would have wanted.
Overall I enjoyed the film and would definitely recommend you to give it a watch; I believe this film is a good one for those between the ages of 18 and 30.
Tell me what you think of it, as like I said, I was pleasantly surprised!!! xxxx
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Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Great review. I haven't heard of this movie but it sounds interesting, I haven't seen many of Lukes movies either... I quite like thrillers but im not keen if their overly gory or otherwise too violent, this sounds like it might be ok for me lol
lozzy_lou178 29.09.2007 00:23
Good review.
Me and my friend saw the trailer to this film before another at the cinema - and I have never jumped out of my seat so far in my life! I never got round to seeing this film but I am thinking about renting this out on Halloween and watching it with my friends!
Lauren xx
eve6kicksass 15.09.2007 20:42
Great review of a film I found rather disappointing. Chris x
very helpful by (100%):
