Vacancy

Vacancy

2007

Drama (Thriller)

Rated: R

Running Time: 85 minutes

Starring: Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale

Directed By: Nimrod Antal

Rating: 3.5 out of 10

Outline

A young couple gets stranded at an isolated motel and must fight from being snuffed out.

Review

There is a disturbing trend in horror/thriller movies today to have the lead couple being in some sort of huge argument prior to their life or death predicaments. It could be they are breaking up or just angry about something (See Strangers, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning as examples) but it doesn’t work. I guess they are trying something a little different from the loving relationship angle but it bothers me and I will tell you why. When people find themselves in horrific situations like being chased by deranged killers or sadistic monsters, no one would try and protect someone they hate. It is barely believable when someone enters a murder house to save a significant other let alone someone they detest. Stick to the love angle Hollywood, I know it is boring but it is the only way to go. Vacancy is the story of Amy and David Fox. They get stranded at an isolated motel and realize something is not quite right with their accommodations. What is supposed to be a quiet overnight rest turns in to a fight for their lives.

This film never hooked me from the very start with the strained dialogue between the Fox’s and the cheesy broken down car scenario. Listen, I get that explaining why cell phones don’t have signals, and why people are on dark and quiet roads are a necessary evil. What I don’t understand is why it has to be such an odd calamity of errors for all this to happen. Anyways, the constant bickering between Amy and David about their impending separation doesn’t endear them to the viewer. In fact, because of the brooding and barely contained tension between them, it makes you want them to get put out of their misery quite early on. The film gets underway as they settle into their room. A knock at their door in the middle of the night teases you with thoughts of the unknown. Don’t be drawn in though as this is the best the movie gets. With the help of a randomly placed VHS tape, the Fox’s battle these unknown attackers who mean them harm. Now there is some good in this film even if the rating is so low. The motel room is drab and derelict leading to easy visions of prior multiple homicides. The attackers have that realistic vibe to them which is neat to see. They aren’t some crazy looking killers that are constructed by warped Hollywood minds. They are regular looking masked guys that want to have some fun at other people’s expense. This makes them more viable in my mind, but the scares are ultimately underwhelming and also infrequent in occurrence and that is hard to forgive.

Amy played by Kate Beckinsale and David played by Luke Wilson are okay once the film turns into the thriller parts. Once the stupid fighting dialogue stops and they focus on surviving this murderous motel they are more tolerable. Surviving the night is more enjoyable to watch when they are looking out for each other. The bad guys are cool in a generic, creepy mask wearing sort of way. Their simplistic look is easy to enjoy with so many other directors going overboard in the killer department.

It is almost as if the director knew this film wasn’t going to be scary so things get thrown at you seemingly at random. A rube cop that no one seems to care about, a horde of rats in a random location, tormenting knocks on the doors for no reason, and a host of other things that illicit little to no thrills. By the end of this film you will have tired of watching the Fox’s run around the tiny motel over and over again. You will want the bad guys to kill them or for the Fox’s to get away but most importantly you will want this forgettable thriller to end.

Director Nimrod Antal had some interesting takes in this film but for the most part forgot to add the suspense. It is easy to see a Psycho type vibe to this film but it never finds the right level of madness. Some VHS footage of people getting murdered is shockingly real and violent, and the opening sequence when the Fox’s check in also has some merit, but the rest of the film is a fail. People might like the character development to this film but I felt it was established in all the wrong places. This is not a terrible shot film but it is unremarkable.

I cannot recommend this film as Vacancy must be referring to the theatres when this was released.

T Factor + If you like thrillers than this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you like lots of blood in your thrillers than this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Identity, Psycho.    

21 Jump Street

21 Jump Street

2012

Comedy

Rated: R

Running Time: 109 minutes

Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Dave Franco, Brie Larson, Rob Riggle

Directed By: Phil Lord, Chris Miller

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Outline

Two underachieving cops go undercover at a local high school to bust a drug ring.

Review

I have a short list of comedies that I will watch at least once a year and this will easily be added to that list. I had a lot of misgivings about this film going in. First off, I never saw the Johnny Depp show of the same name it was based on, and secondly Channing Tatum in a comedy also made me uneasy. It took all of 15 seconds for my worries to go away and realize this film was going to be awesome. 21 Jump Street is the story of Schmidt and Jenko. They are unimpressive cops who get sent to a local high school to bring down a drug ring. Working undercover the two of them must bring down these dealers before this potentially fatal drug spreads.

At a cursory glance this is just another buddy cop movie and when you dig deeper it really is just another buddy cop movie. The difference between 21 Jump Street and films like Cop Out, The Other Guys, and Starsky and Hutch is this movie was funny the entire time. From the opening scene where we see Schmidt and Jenko as actual teens in high school, to the end of the film where the last bullet has been fired, this film is laugh out loud funny. There are no lulls or boring scenes, there is no downtime, and most importantly the film is always entertaining. Having forced to go undercover at a high school to save their jobs, the two buddies quickly learn that it isn’t like what they remembered when they were students. There are new cliques they don’t know about, the cool kids care about the environment, people who play sports are mocked, and even people wear their backpacks strangely. Trying to fit into this new crazy teenage world is where a lot of the jokes stem from. Jenko and Schmidt do everything in their power to fit in and discover who these drug dealers are. They throw an underage party with alcohol and drugs, enter the school play, take science tests, and they have car chases in a driving instructors car all of which you won’t want to miss.

Schmidt played by Jonah Hill and Jenko played by Channing Tatum are awesome together. Hill plays the out of shape and brainy cop while Tatum plays the brawny and less intelligent one. The two of them play off each other like they have been friends forever. Having the two of them as twenty something’s in high school is pure jokes as their roles are not what you expect. Hill turns out being the cool guy and Tatum gets a taste of being the nerd and they both do great jobs. I expect nothing but greatness from Hill but Tatum was truly funny. His comedic range really showed especially where he goes on a crazy drug trip. Under the influence he talks about science and plays musical instruments which really shows he has a great comedic timing. A special note must be mentioned to Ice Cube playing their angry captain on Jump Street. Cube was a fantastic surprise with his yelling and cussing throughout this film. By the end of this film you will want to update your Facebook status to “infiltrate the dealers!….find the supplier!”

So this film has a liberal amount of swearing and drug use but it never gets out of control. While finding the drug dealers is the story, watching these two less than perfect cops go undercover is the hook. They fight and they bicker but seem like genuine best friends. Even when a pretty cool gun fight scene breaks out and people are being shot, the film is still able to capture laughs. Everyone in this film works. The teachers are funny, the students are funny, the drug dealers are funny, the cameos are funny, and anytime Jonah Hill throws an old lady to the ground by her face means you need to watch this. Is this the funniest movie of the year? I easily think it is.

Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller have really hit comedic gold with this film. They have casted fantastically right across the board and really keep the flow of this movie light and easy going. Buddy cop movies are hard to do. The chemistry needs to be just right or it is left floundering. Not only are the lead characters relatable, they seem to be having fun and that helps out any comedy. This is a rare film that when it ended I was left wanting more. I give just a big applause to anyone involved with this movie.

I give this movie a big recommendation as it is a hilarious time of seeing immature cops retaking high school. I can’t wait for the next one.

T Factor + If you like buddy cop movies this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you do not like Jonah Hill as a comedian than this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Beverly Hills Cop, The Other Guys.

Stake Land

Stake Land

Drama (Horror,Vampire)

2010

Rated: R

Running Time: 98 minutes

Starring: Danielle Harris, Connor Paolo, Nick Damici, Kelly McGillis

Directed By: Jim Mickle

Rating: 6 out of 10

Outline

Vampires rule the world as mankind is pushed to the brink of extinction.

Review

While John Goodman and I would thrive in a world named Steak Land I am sure we would struggle in a place called Stake Land. In a time where everything vampire is hip, this smaller known vamp flick works when so many of its big budget brethren fail. Stake Land is the story of the world in a vampire apocalyptic state. We follow the vampire slayer known only as Mister, and his protégé Martin, as they travel the country looking for a place free of vamps so they can settle down.

A perfect description of the film is the movie the Road meets televisions Buffy the Vampire Slayer (without humor.) Humankind’s propensity for violence is apparent even in peaceful times and that is why this film is so good. Not only are the vampires the threat but so are roving groups of cannibals and religious zealots. We find ourselves in a world where the economy, government, and even normal society have collapsed. Bartering is the new currency and the towns have been reduced to pockets of humanity behind heavily guarded barricades. The vampires roam the country side looking for human blood and the humans cower in fear. Through all the chaos and unrest are the grizzled vamp killer Mister, and his young Padawan learner, Martin. They are masters at surviving when so many others have died off. If you don’t mind a lower budget film and a slower moving story there is much to like about this movie. The vampires are not always amazing to behold but are still well designed. They come across more as zombies as they are perpetually covered in blood and behave more on instinct then brains. What the vamps lack in intelligence, they more than make up for in brawn and that is where Mister comes in. He is a remorseless killer and he brings down vampires like he is cutting grass.

Mister is played very well by actor Nick Damici. His grizzled and veteran look has a lot to do with his performance but he is a lead character worth following. His baby faced apprentice Martin is played by Connor Paolo. He is okay but really anyone could have filled that role. I have to mention that Danielle Harris is in this film mainly because she is such an awesome scream queen and a favorite of mine.

So the film really isn’t anything more than the two main characters traversing the country looking for a vampire free haven. They encounter brutal vampires as well as humans and they cut a bloody path out of each situation as it arises. It is cool to see the bleakness of the world as humans are on the brink of extinction. The makeshift towns and the people scavenging for food provides a great backdrop for how hard it is to survive in a world that has no future. The end might be too abrupt or unsatisfying for some but I felt it fit well with the apocalyptic vision they were going for. I praise this film but please be warned; it is more about survival than battling vampires. The lack of budget is clear as there are not as many vampires as one would like. However the story’s overall vision is more than worth the watch.

Director Jim Mickle has lots to be proud of. In a time where vampires are terribly oversaturated he puts forth a unique vision. He treats them more like fast moving zombies and it was a neat take. His casting was sound and his portrayal of humanity is quite believable. The film drags and the fight scenes could be crisper but he got his vision across and I liked it for the most part. It was a job well done.

I give this movie a recommendation as these vampires are not emo they are just here for your blood.

T Factor + If you like vampire movie than this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you like your vampire films more action oriented then this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Doomsday, The Road.