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BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
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 Posted - 06/18/2007 : 20:44:27
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Horror films have been so refined over the decades that to stand out a newbie to the genre really needs to bring something special. Vacancy just ain't that film, and there's really only one reason why: a script as vacant as the title. The other elements are fine starting with very stylish opening titles - a kind of post-modern Saul Bass treatment promising complexity. The photography and music, two essentials for good atmos, are both clever, even occasionally witty. The acting of the three principals reveals more than the surface of what's on screen at any moment; you really feel these people have pasts and relationships. Frank Whaley in particular has fun with his bizarre characterization, without sacrificing a moment of menace. The problem is, none of this goes anywhere.
Largely set in a middle-of-nowhere motel, the film is bound to draw comparison with Psycho, but sadly, unlike its role model, it fails at every turn to develop from its premise. With so little room for expansion the story just fizzles out even as the danger persists. So you're left with an odd sensation of tummy-pit revulsion tinged with boredom. It's a good thing the running time is less than 1� hours; it already feels twice the length.
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Vacancy
