DVD
REVIEW: VACANCY 2
THE FIRST CUT
01/17/09
Two years ago Sony had a
mild hit with Vacancy, which made about $40 million from its
theatrical and DVD run. Wanting to cash in, Sony budgeted $5
million to shoot Vacancy 2 for the direct to video market.
Mark L. Smith who wrote the first Vacancy returns, however
instead of writing a sequel, he wrote a prequel. This time
the movie would be shown from the view of the killers. Too
bad nobody told Mark that this type of movie is ten times
harder to write. All the mystery that made the first movie
so well received would now have to be explained, taking all
the mystic out of it. This is exactly what happens and what
you have left is a less than stellar horror movie with
absolutely zero tension.
Examining Vacancy 2, gives one a better appreciation for the
first Vacancy, and I’ve come to the conclusion that what
makes the first Vacancy so good was the director, Nimród
Antal. Mr. Antal is so good at building tension in his
scenes, that every scenes has you on the edge of your seat,
and by the time the final frame comes along you’re hit with
a final jolt, the motel’s management is basically doing this
as a business.
Vacancy 2 explorers how this business got started. The movie
starts with Gordon (David Moscow) and Reece (Brian Klugman)
up to no good. They have set up one of the rooms in the
motel they run with recording equipment to film people
having sex. They sell copies of their movies to make a
little extra money on the side. But things are slow and the
sex tapes aren’t selling so well. Enter Smith (Scott G.
Anderson) a serial killer, who Gordon and Reece film killing
a prostitute. Gordon and Reece apprehend Smith, but Smith
convinces them that if they can film killings on film they
could make a whole lot more money. From this point on,
Gordon and Reece become killers working along side smith.
This is one of the things that bothered me about the movie.
Gordon and Reece are too easily convinced to go along with
Smith. From this point on, the movie turns into just another
horror movie with people screaming and running and dying.
Unlike its predecessor this movie has zero tension; there
are no moments of suspense. The only good thing I could say
is that the acting is not bad. However, it’s just ok. Also,
the quality of the production is nicely done. I only wish
they would have had a better script.
Sony has packaged the DVD with subtitled in six different
foreign languages and the audio is dubbed in four. The DVD
also contains three deleted scenes with only one worth
watching and two features: a thirteen minute behind the
scenes and a boring feature on the construction of the set
of the Meadow View Inn. If you haven’t seen the first
Vacancy, go out and get it, but I would recommend skipping
this prequel, unless you can’t help not knowing how it all
began. However, how it all began isn’t all that exciting.
Review
By Brad Peterson
brad@smartcine.com
VIDEO:
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)
AUDIO:
English,
French(Dolby Surround), Spanish Portuguese and Thai (5.1
Dolby Digital)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai,
Chinese, Korean
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Commentary with Director Eric Bross, Producer Hal Lieberman,
Executive Producer Brian Paschal, Agnes Bruckner and David
Moscow
Caught on Tape: Behind the Scenes of Vacancy 2
- Producer Hal Lieberman discusses the differences between
Vacancy 2 and Vacancy. Also featured are interviews with the
cast discussing their characters.(12:59)
Behind the facade: Constructing the Meadow View Inn
- Construction Coordinator Chris Garr and Art Director Colin
De Rouin discuss the construction of the main set, the
Meadow View Inn.
Deleted Scenes - Three deleted scenes with only the
first one, Carrying the Body Out, worth watching only
because it gives Gordon and the rest of the gang a better
picture of there motive.
Carrying the Body Out - One scene here shows Gordon
getting the money for the first video, better establishing a
motive. (1:07)
Jack
Rescues Jessica - Shows the person that rescues
Jessica, which is not seen in the movie. This was cut with
good reason. It doesn’t add anything to the film (1:44)
Sheriff at Meadow View Inn - Most of these scenes
are in the movie, the extra here is only a few seconds
(1:27)
RATING BREAK DOWN:
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