Movie Review - Vacancy

Saw Vacancy tonight!! Pretty good film - don't expect any academy award-winning performances or anything, but a fun diversion for a little under two hours. First downside - Kate Beckinsale without a corset - I guess "Underworld" and "Van Helsing" really spoiled us. Secondly, the movie got off to a slow start, the couple (portrayed by Beckinsale and Luke Wilson) are at each others throats, and on the verge of a divorce, constantly bickering, and not very likeable.

As the movie progresses, we learn the source of their bickering; they recently lost a child. This revelation completely changes how you view them, they cease to be an unlikeable bundyesque couple and become much more sympathetic. After their car breaks down, they end up checking into an isolated, flea-bag motel until they can get a mechanic in the morning.

The room they rent is certainly far from 4-star accommodations. We are treated to the sight of a cockroach scurrying away from the light switch moments before it is flipped. Unfortunately for them, this is about the high point of their accommodations. They soon discover that the room they are staying in has been the setting for numerous snuff films (for those of you lucky enough not to know what a "snuff film" is, it is a movie focusing on the death of the protagonist, that is filmed with no special effects, i.e. the victim - I mean protagonist - is actually murdered on film, this urban legend supposedly does exist, although I hope it is nothing more than a myth, but if it interests you, check out Nic Cage in "8mm"). The rest of the movie is devoted to the cat and mouse game between the Foxes and their hidden assailants, and I have to admit, I was delightfully sucked right into the story, in spite of the group of prepubescent twits that decided to sit behind me 15 minutes into the movie and were completely incapable of keeping their mouths shut.

All in all, not a bad way to spend $10, and certainly worth catching on DVD.

Of course, tomorrow, I am planning on catching the Lord of The Rings trilogy back to back at the Arlingon Drafthouse and Cinema, which will I am certain, eclipse all knowledge of other cinematic fare. Imagine: hobbits and beer!!!! I am sure that is how heaven is described.