Motel 2

Indeed, when the movie starts the credits tells us that this is a prequel, how it all started. But somehow it fails to deliver us a story. The first ten minutes has nothing to do with the rest of the movie, it is just there to clock the movie in at more then a hour. There is more blood then the original Vacancy but somehow it just don't work. They should have made another movie with another title. And the parts, for example, were you should jump out of your seat, well, it's not scary. You can guess what will happen. It's a pity that they always have to make a franchise out of movies that make a bit of money. Watch vacancy forget this one. Watch this one, as a movie on his own and then you will be satisfied.

The Pinewood Motel was shut down in April 2007 and 200 videotaped murders were discovered from as far back as September 2004. It all started with motel clerks Reece (Brian Klugman) and Gordon (David Moscow) videotaping the sexual escapades of their guests and selling them to the truck driver (David Shackelford). Then they film the mysterious Mr. Smith murdering a woman in the room. They take Smith prisoner who sells them on making more snuff movies. Young couple Jessica (Agnes Bruckner) and Caleb (Trevor Wright) with their funny black friend Tanner (Arjay Smith) arrive at the motel just in time.

It's a real disappointment that neither Frank Whaley nor Ethan Embry come back for this prequel. The connection to the first movie is lost. I only know Bruckner and she's played this damsel-in-distress before as all young actresses do. The concept is basically the same as the original which means that there are no surprises. The first one was a well-made simple B-horror elevated because of compelling good actors in the cast. The simplicity means there is no place for this to go. The lack of good actors is really where this falls down. Fank Whaley was creepy in the first one. This is just a straight-to-video cash grab.

Vacancy the original was so much better, however this one was decent for a prequel. I felt like there were some moments that felt more silly than anything, which I don't think personally is good in a horror film. The acting was pretty well done also. Good if you just want to watch it or have extra time on your hands but you wouldn't be missing too much if you skipped out on this one.

Vacancy 2: The first cut is a film that is better than it really ought to be.

I have said this comment countless times before, but an idea that has been implemented to great effect in the first film makes it interesting, and suspenseful.

Now with a prequel, it begins to give off some bad vibes, as if the ending has already been predetermined, and therefore it would need something truly unique to make it memorable.

Thankfully it created its own distinctive story about how the culprits began their operation at the Meadow View Inn, and how they turned into the monsters that terrorized couples, and families from the original Vacancy.

The acting was decent enough, although there won't be any award winners.

The psychopath Smith who was played by Scott Anderson was the absolute standout for me. He was bone-chilling, vicious, cruel, and sadistic. I couldn't believe the motel perverts trusted, and sided with him knowing how unstable, and deranged his actions were.

I would be a little more intrigued, into his past, and why he became such a savage to be able to commit these horrendous acts without remorse.

The good was that there is a lot of tension. You want the kids to survive, therefore you are alert, and on the edge of your seat constantly barracking for their survival.

The bad is that this is a very limited story, and doesn't deviate whatsoever from that blatantly obvious plot, so there's nothing that makes it stand out.

I can't give much more in-depth information here, this is a film that you already know won't reach any great expectations, It does sit below par because it's not entirely terrible, but I'm not sure that it warrants much of your time.

4.5/10.

Agnes Bruckner plays Jessica,a sexy girl from South Carolina.She on a road trip with her fiancée Caleb and annoying friend Tanner.Soon they find themselves checking into the Meadow View Inn a week after an initial murder took place the previous week.The motel's employee Gordon and his three comrades focus on torturing guests for profit and recording their agony on tape,leaving the three friends having to fight for survival.This straight-to-video sequel to horror hit "Vacancy" offers nothing fresh.It's more violent and sadistic than its predecessor,but less believable.The characters of villains are actually more interesting than protagonists.The motel setting is spot on as it provides some spooky atmosphere.It's a shame that the climax is so anticlimatic.6 out of 10.