The underrated 2007 thriller Vacancy by director Nimród Antal explores the world of Snuff films in a way that few others do. Its episodes of fictionalized violence oversimplify it, making it appear like another film, but Vacancy has much more to offer. Simplicity and realism make Vacancy stand out, with its storyline seemingly running a predictable course to suddenly turn and surprise audiences with its sharp plot twists and claustrophobic vibes. Unlike other movies where the story often gets blurred, complex, and out of touch with the audiences’ world, Vacancy delivers a reality-check punch that makes spectators lock their doors at night, sensitizing them to what it means to be scared of something ‘real’ that can happen to anyone at any time. Vacancy is an effective and undervalued horror film that fans of the genre who’ve never seen it should check out, and despite its straight-to-the-point simplicity and riveting plot, it fails to attract viewers and belongs now to that obscure chunk of films which only a few horror enthusiasts know and appreciate.

What Is ‘Vacancy’ About?

When David (Luke Wilson) and Amy (Kate Beckinsale), fighting through a marriage in shambles and past mistakes, exit the freeway to attempt a shortcut, they stumble upon problems beyond their capacity when they get lost, and their car fails. Not long after the camera starts to roll, the audience learns about the couple’s issues, which are as concerning as they can get. Beckinsale does a great job portraying the wife who has lost touch with life and struggles to face reality, living in the past and stumbling through a marriage that is falling apart just as fast as their situation. Wilson, on the other hand, seems to be taking the lead, making decisions, and confronting the challenges life presents him, with the determination to move forward, for better or worse. If Wilson took a shortcut to avoid traffic on the interstate, his real reason was to spend more time with his wife, hoping to save their marriage. Not long after David realizes they are lost, Amy wakes up demanding an explanation. After plenty of fighting, the couple stops at a remote and eerie gas station to ask for directions. The clerk helps them with the car, pointing them to a more convenient night accommodation nearby, but the couple refuses, preferring to get back to the road to reach their destination.

As the couple drives away, spectators delve deeper into their past, learning that the trip is their last attempt at saving their marriage after they were tainted by the death of their child. Guilt and regret are paramount in a poignant exploration of the difficult journey they endured. The hurt, the grieving, and the mistrust they have for each other are part of the healing process that will ultimately put them to the test. Not long after leaving the gas station, the car breaks down for good, forcing Amy and David to walk back into town to seek help. After discovering that the gas station has already closed, they divert to the nearby Pinewood Motel, an eerie-like structure used mainly by truck drivers. After checking in, the eerie motel, seen at first as a glimmer of hope, presents itself as a nightmare, when the couple realizes they are the victim of a sadistic game where the clients are killed on cameras, and the videos are then sold to perverted customers. David and Amy will now face a choice. Put their bickering and fighting aside and once again come together as husband and wife, or drift apart and die alone.

Why ‘Vacancy’ Works so Well!?

The riveting plot and the personal real-life struggle make this film stand out. The audience finds themselves in the shoes of the characters, not just wanting them to survive the night but also wanting them to get closer and reunite as a couple. The claustrophobic grunge and low-light setting enhance the battle of good vs evil, symbolizing a hostile environment that puts all it has against the strained couple. The motel’s small rooms symbolize at first a place to fear, but as the couple’s relationship improves and evolves, it becomes a tool, to be used to their advantage against outside evil. Working together, Amy and David discover that they can beat all the odds, if they only decide to, once more, trust each other. The film’s realism works well because it reminds the spectator that good and evil are mostly inside any of us, and it’s a personal battle to keep the good side dominant. The manager of the motel and his gang represent the bad of society, the one beyond salvation, while the couple identifies as the one close to doom, but still in time to be redeemed.

In Vacancy, every plot twist and jump scare clocks in at the right time, making the spectator feel estranged and afraid in locations he often knows and trusts. The plot flows, always bringing in new elements that keep the audience engaged and glued to the screen. The snuff film concept in the movie brings the audience closer to a more realistic and pure essence of freight because of the realism this pseudo-genre brings. Films rarely succeed in instilling fear because they focus on improbable events, very distant from people’s perspective, but Vacancy definitely succeeds in this, making spectators realize that what’s happening in the movie could be happening to them. If Vacancy’s storyline is well grounded in reality and makes its mark without resorting to implausible phenomena, the overall cast ensemble fills in the blanks of a classic good vs evil story which plunges David and Amy into a fight for their lives.

When it comes to scary movies, each one has its personal taste in the matter, but Vacancy with its low-lighting setting and minimal cast setup, provides an engaging narrative in which the right and wrong battle is extremely powerful and expresses all the talent of the actors who deliver without failing.

You can watch Vacancy on Starz.