Vacant House

This is a drama, not a horror, and it is highly affecting as one. The mystery and result are worthwhile and linger on with you after its conclusion. Great acting, great direction. These high quality elements are as pro (or more pro even) tan much of the summer blockbusters out there.

This isn't a horror film, so please throw out that expectation. What this is, however, is storytelling at its best. Independent filmmakers can learn from this film. How do you make an indie film with excellence? You write a great story with suspense, well-crafted characters--then you cast some amazing actors--and take advantage of every piece of equipment you've got. Suspenseful, thought provoking, and a great twist at the end. Worth every minute of your time to watch.

Wow. I honestly didn't know what to expect when starting this movie, but I was genuinely impressed. Usually, with low-budget films, you have to first get past the bad production values, but this one was solid across the board: photography, lighting, sound, acting... It was all professional quality, so it allowed you to forget you were watching an indie film and just get caught up in the story. And it is a compelling story.

As the movie progresses, you find yourself getting invested in the main character's plight, wondering if he'll get caught by the police, but most importantly hoping he'll find the emotional catharsis he needs.

I won't spoil anything, I'll just say this little movie is well worth your time, so check it out if you get a chance!

Vacant House is a thoughtful, moody piece that takes its time getting where it's going and delivers some powerful performances along the way. It's important to know what you're getting into with this film; if you're looking for a horror film or suspense/thriller, your barometer to judge and ENJOY the film will be off. It's more of a character/think piece, but there's nothing wrong with that.

It's clearly a low-budget film and the equipment on-hand (particularly the camera and lenses), doesn't do justice to the thought or skill that went into making the film. Don't let that stand in the way of your appreciation for the writing and directing.

The performances are what impressed me the most, particularly from the lead Cris Cunningham. Often, with first-time filmmakers on a truly shoestring budget, we get a cast that is not quite up to the task of whatever the material demands of them. Not the case here. Cris and co. turn in powerful performances at every turn. Cris pleasantly surprised me on more than one occasion.

This is a film that will make you think and have you wondering until the end. Well worth your time.

There is no horror here. I guess it's mostly about redemption, a battle fought on 3 fronts if I got it correctly.

I have almost nothing to say about it. It's a movie, but it could have easily been a soap opera episode, it has jail breaking, personal relationships that are wild, lots of tears, drama and so and so. I would never recommend it, and you should know exactly what you're going into.

So without spoiling it, you will find no horror, just a man trying to find a path to cleanse his soul and forgive those around him. This is it. This is the movie right there. I nearly fell asleep two times.

But! the movie is well made. For what it truly is, I think a good effort was put into it, they made the most of the budget, and those people involved in the making of Vacant House should be actually proud. They made this cute little project, and they could aim for bigger next time.

Cheers!