Thursday, March 12, 2009

Vacancy 2: The First Cut

Last April, authorities shut down the Pinewood Motel. They discovered over 200 videotaped murders. The earliest tape is dated September 2004. This is the story of the first victims.


Experience the gruesome beginnings of Mr. Smith and his hotel of horrors in this prequel to Vacancy. . .


Genre - Horror
Year Released - 2009
Running Time - 86 minutes
Directed by Eric Bross
Written by Mark L. Smith (who also wrote the 1st Vacancy)
Cast Includes:
Scott G. Anderson (reprising his role from the 1st film)
David Moscow (Just Married)
Brian Klugman (Wishmaster and Cloverfield)
Agnes Bruckner (Murder by Numbers, Venom, The Woods, Peaceful Warrior, and Blood & Chocolate)
Trevor Wright
Arjay Smith (he was also in the Masters of Horror episode - The V Word)

Rating: 3 Skulls

Plot Summary:
Suspecting only a night of hard beds and tacky decor, Caleb, his sexy new fiance Jessica, and his sarcastic best friend Tanner check into the Meadow View Inn. They have no idea that it is not just another lonely motel, but a horrific trap where guests are brutally tortured and murdered while the sadistic maniac Mr. Smith and his greedy accomplices film the grisly slayings for profit. Caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, the three young friends now must fight to survive.


Review:
If you enjoyed the 1st Vacancy, then you should enjoy this one as well.

Being a prequel, this one goes back to where and how it all started. We first meet Gordon and Reece - two of the sleazy guys running the Meadow View Inn, where they have cameras installed in the rooms, to spy on their guests having sex. . . That is, until Mr. Smith comes along.

When Mr. Smith checks into the motel with a hooker, Gordon & Reece sit back to watch, only to be shocked by witnessing Mr Smith brutally stab the hooker to death. Not wanting to call the cops, because of their cameras and all, they hold Mr. Smith at gunpoint while deciding what they should do. Realizing what they were doing, Mr. Smith coerces them into filming snuff films, with him as the killer - and if you have seen the 1st film, then you know the rest of the story.


I actually enjoyed the first one, as it portrayed a horrifying situation for any wayward traveling couple. When I heard about the prequel, I was intrigued, but honestly was not expecting a whole lot. I think that this one is just as good as the 1st one [not better/not worse] equally the same.


Being a prequel, I figured that I knew how it was all going to end. When the characters had hope, I did not - knowing that everyone was ultimately doomed. Still, I was pleasantly surprised and entertained throughout. Scott G. Anderson [Mr. Smith] plays a pretty sick guy, laughing as he is brutally stabbing someone to death, which is nerve racking, to say the least.

Here's the trailer:



Jason

6 comments:

Johnny said...

I too enjoyed and was entertained by Vacancy. It's nothing amazing, but it was fun. I've been wanting to check this one out and now that you've said it's as good as the first, i'll definetly jack it up on my queue.

thebonebreaker said...

Good deal Johnny!

Be sure to drop back by and let me know your thoughts afterwards! ;-)

J

Anonymous said...

I liked the first one too - and I was pretty impressed with the sequel/prequel. I'm not sure it held out all the way through - but that's probably because I thought the first half hour or so was so strong. Thanks for reviewing - this movie seemed to come out to very little attention.

thebonebreaker said...

Gore-Gore Girl,

I think folks are aware of this film, but may be hesitant, which is why I put out there that I thought it was just as good as the first one.

Also, it currently has a long wait on Netflix - luckily my neighbor owned a copy :-)

Glad to hear that you were impressed by this one as well.

J

Anonymous said...

i thought this was even better than the first film, actually it was one of those films that really took me by surprise in terms of just how superb it was, and agnes bruckner is an even hotter chick than kate beckinsale.

thebonebreaker said...

Snob,

Thanks for the comment.
I don't know that I would call either film 'superb', but to each their own, right? :-)

And I have to disagree on the whole Beckinsale vs Bruckner thing ;-)

J