Every story has a beginning, but I never thought that Sony Pictures would really green light a prequel to a thriller film that didn’t even break even on it’s opening day in theaters. Sure it had decent DVD sales and rentals, which is probably the reason why this movie is going direct to DVD, but I’m a bit confused as to why they would want to make a film about the back story of the killers in the first film, who in theory only one of the killers from the original film actually is in this one. Anyway…. on with what this film is about and if it’s worth your time.
Vacancy 2: The First Cut is pretty much the same as the first film except with a brief introduction as to why the owners of the hotel and their new found friend came up with the idea to make snuff films; and how they pick their victims. Pretty much folks this has the same story as the first one, with a few little things that do make the movie somewhat different. First off instead of a couple we have a boyfriend and girlfriend situation, Jessica (Agnes Bruckner) and Caleb (Trevor Wright). They also have a third wheel sought to speak with them, Caleb’s friend Tanner ( Arjay Smith) who is kind of the comic relief type until things start to hit the fan. You pretty much know the story from here. The three of them get a hotel room Jessica and Caleb start going at it. The three guys from the hotel start recording it, and Tanner while in the hotel room next door, turns on the television and sees his friends going at it. Next thing you know, they try to leave, the car won’t start and then all the mayhem and madness begins.
Honestly folks, its not that VACANCY 2 is a bad movie, it’s just that we already know the story and we’ve seen movies with stories like this a hundred times over. The writers did try to make it as different as possible by mixing things up a bit within the story, but they are tricks that we have seen over and over again. I can’t say that the script was bad, but it was nothing special either. The character development was not that bad, and it was kind of neat to see how the first set of killers banded together, but overall it’s just your basic run of the mill horror thriller script.
The acting is not that bad, I mean it’s nothing special but it hold it’s own. The cast is decent and the performances are for the most part believable. The movies strong point is probably it’s production value. All the sets and filming techniques and lighting were all done exceptional well, though I will admit the film was edited as bit sloppy. There were some pretty decent, yet basic make-up and visual effects. Nothing too over the top but it worked none the less.
The DVD does have a few special features such as deleted scenes, “Caught on Tape: Behind the Scenes of Vacancy 2” as well as Behind the Facade: Constructing the Meadow View Inn Featurette. And then you also have the filmmakers and cast commentary track as well.
Overall, Vacancy 2: The First Cut is not a bad movie, but it’s nothing great either. If you enjoyed the first movie and want to know a little bit more about how the killers got started in their murder and snuff business then you might want to check it out. But I think most fans of horror and thriller movies are just going to see this movie as just another old horror film following the same cliché as the rest of them.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
