By Katie Potzick
Horror movies set in hotels, are some of the best of the genre, like “Psycho,” “Identity” and “The Shining.” The upcoming thriller “Vacancy” looks like its going to carry on this tradition.
The movie is set at a creepy rundown motel in the middle of nowhere. David (Luke Wilson) and Amy Fox (Kate Beckinsale), a married couple, are stranded there when their car breaks down.
Over the course of the night, they discover that the motel owner is actually a murderer who makes snuff films in the very room that they’re staying in, and if they don’t escape they will be his next victims.
Wilson, who plays the lead male role in “Vacancy,” talked to The Cardinal about the movie, his part in it and the whole horror experience.
Wilson is probably best known for his work in comedies such as “Old School,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Anchorman” and “Rushmore.” Along with his brother Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn, he is one of Hollywood’s new kings of comedy.
This has led some people to wonder why he’s branching out to horror.
On becoming involved with “Vacancy,” Wilson said, “I’ve never really had the chance before. I like all kinds of different genres, but this is obviously not the kind of thing that comes my way that often.”
He admitted that he felt nervous about the role and that he found the part mentally and physically challenging. At times he even wondered if he was in over his head. This was largely due to all the action taking place in a single night instead of an extended time period like in his other movies.
The part also required “crawling through tunnels filled with rats, getting stabbed, running, smashing mirrors and smashing windows,” acts that he desribed as “intense.”
“Vacancy” appears to be a throwback to the psychologically terrifying horror movies of yore, more Hitchcockian than recent in-your-face torture movies like “Saw” and “Hostel.” Wilson said, “‘Vacancy’ seems to me like a scary movie from the 70s. Not a full on gory ‘Saw’ type movie.”
He also commented on the realness of the subject, stating he is “always nervous staying at motels. It’s always kind of a strange vibe out there and you wonder what the hell is going on in those other rooms.”
The motel in “Vacancy” certainly gives off strange vibes and that has a lot to do with the amazing set that was built especially for the movie.
A life-size motel and gas station were constructed on Stage 18, the largest studio lot in the world and the same one where the “Wizard of Oz” was shot.
Wilson said, “It was the first set I’ve been on where I was calling friends saying, ‘You’ve got to make the effort to come down here, it’s incredible.'”
To promote the movie, Sony has not only set up a promotional Web site, but has come up with a quirky way to hook potential audience members. Dialing the number 1-889-Vacancy will give callers a special code that when entered at “Vacancy” site will let them preview the snuff films supposedly shot at the motel.
Also on the site you will find downloads, a summary, and more on Luke Wilson. “Vacancy” hits theaters on April 20.
