Vacancy

VACANCY (2007) - April. 21, 2007
A really effective, suspenseful thriller about a couple who check into a seedy motel only to find themselves unwitting participants in a snuff film. I really liked this movie; it spends just enough time setting up the characters so that we're rooting for them, and then proceeds to progressively notch up the tension, barely letting up until the credits roll. Nimrod Antal's direction and the cinematography were really good; this was a really nice looking film. Antal is up there with Fincher as far as making a dark scene look really good. The film features a perfect running-time (just under an hour and a half) and is really entertaining throughout. This was just a tight little thriller; it may not be all that original, but it accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do, and it does so stylishly and effectively. ****