Vacancy

Short and sweet, with nary a frame of superfluous footage, this derivative thriller—which owes as much to Psycho and Touch of Evil as it does to Hostel—wastes no time getting down to business. Returning from their last family function as a couple, soon-to-be-divorced David and Amy Fox (Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) become stranded while driving late at night and end up taking refuge at a nearby seedy motel. The creepy clerk (Frank Whaley) gives them his best room—which, David discovers, is outfitted with numerous, badly hidden video cameras. Turns out that somebody has been killing all the guests and making snuff films of the unfortunate victims, and the unwitting couple have just been selected to be the stars of the next production. Director Nimrod Antal, working from a straightforward script by Mark L. Smith, skillfully develops this deceptively simple premise, and even though Vacancy stretches credulity in its pulse-pounding third act, overall it's an effective chiller, with Wilson and Beckinsale appealing in the lead roles, and Whaley shining in his finely calibrated supporting turn. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a 22-minute “Checking In” cast and crew featurette, “Mason's Video Picks: Extended Snuff Films” extended scenes (9 min.), a “Raccoon Encounter” deleted scene (2 min.), a brief alternate opening sequence, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disturbing little chiller.] (E. Hulse)