Vacancy 2: The First Cut

[StevePulaski]

A cat and mouse game takes place in the sequel to Vacancy.

Rating: ★★

Let's be clear on something, at the time of release the original Vacancy film was only a moderate success grossing a little over $30 million on a $19 million budget. It never really needed a theatrical or Direct-to-Dvd sequel. But it got one, all right. Because that's how horror movies work. Joy Ride didn't need a sequel, but got one. But still, that one was at least a pretty solid installment and was a worthy follow-up to an intense ride.

So now I'm faced with Vacancy 2: The First Cut, a prequel to the original film. It states on the Dvd cover "the story of the first victims." A complete spoiler. This is a prequel, and automatically kills any suspense this film had going for it. The first film had the tiniest bit of contrived suspense. You actually wondered "hmm, maybe they won't get away." With this, it's a prequel, making a prequel/sequel to this totally tarnishes it and gives the main point away.

There is not much different from the original film. A couple, Caleb (Wright) and Jessica (Bruckner) and their friend Tanner (Smith) are driving up to their new home and stumble upon a motel called Meadow View Inn. They decide to stay there for the night, and after an encounter with an unsettling and oddball manager, they go to their room.

Tanner discovers in his room he can see what is happening in the room beside him. The gang realizes they are being watched by the people in the front office, and try to flee the motel. There are three men; two with bags over their heads and the visible manager, who are now trying to kill these people and make snuff videos of it to sell to associates interested.

In the beginning scene, we see how these freaks got into what they are currently doing and why they do it. It's sickening and sadistic, but totally welcome in a horror film like this.

The characters aren't developed enough or have a strong enough talk where we honestly and sincerely care what will happen to them. In the original film, I was attached to the characters more than I was now because we got a little backstory when they were driving to the motel in the beginning of the film. With this, we get minor informations on these three, even though the film comes with a four minute driving scene.

In the original film, we also got more time to see them in the hotel room rather than things happening almost minutes after they get in the room. The characters had time to look around and more time for some suspenseful, edge of your seat tricks to happen. There is almost no scene of these characters being themselves or smiling.

Vacancy 2: The First Cut has some interesting scenes in it like when the characters are running through the woods and stumble upon a Chrisitian's home. Like the first one, it had some interesting little touches that make it amusing, but nothing more. What does it take to make a good film in the Vacancy series? Watch the first two and learn.

Starring: Agnes Bruckner, Trevor Wright, David Moscow, and Gwendoline Yeo. Directed by: Eric Bross.