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I like prequels. I’m an inquisitive person and, when I enjoy a movie, I sometimes ponder on what led to the events unfolding on the screen (can we say too much free time?). Slasher flicks are a good target for prequels, in my opinion. Yeah, I know there are purists out there who say, “Why do we need to know why Freddy/Jason/Leatherface/Michael/etc. kills? Can’t we just let them go about their business and not try to analyze them?” We don’t really need prequels of most of these because we are given enough motivation as their stories move along (not to mention flashbacks).  But what about the unnamed killers who seem to strike without warning or reason? Aren’t they also deserving of a bit of heritage to stand in the company of their more notable bloody brethren?

Before I go any further, have any of you not seen “Vacancy”? Put your hands down…don’t be ridiculous. If you have missed out on that, then you should stop reading right now and go watch it…this will still be here when you get back. If you feel like forging on to “Vacancy 2: The First Cut” without having viewed the first one, consider yourself warned for spoilers ahead.  Now, let’s take a look at what’s going on over at the Meadow View Inn.

Once upon a time there were a couple of bored motel employees who decided to amuse themselves (and make a bit of extra cash) by videotaping some of their guests.  Things were just not going well economically. Business was dwindling (Fooled ya…you thought I was going to say “dying”.). Lady luck’s evil twin decides to smile upon these yo-yos one night and introduce them to a man with a plan…an enterprising serial killer (Scott Anderson, reprising his role from the former film) who convinces them that their fortunes can be made if they upgrade from homemade porn to snuff films. Capitalism is a grand thing.

As you can imagine, it isn’t easy to find volunteers for this sort of thing. Does Variety even have a section for that? Some of their would-be performers are going to put up a fight. Also, in case you should be thinking of hiring one, serial killers often have authority issues and really don’t take direction well. Have the burgeoning entrepreneurs made a bad investment?

If you have seen the first “Vacancy”, you already know what sort of thing to expect here. This is not deep-thought provoking cinema, but it is fun if you are looking for some blood-spattered, popcorn-munching, talk-to-the-screen entertainment. It isn’t nearly as gory as I expected…they don’t overkill with it. The audience has a peep-show to both the killers and the victims’ points-of-view.  Which team will you cheer on?  I personally enjoyed the interactions between the killers as they try to get their act together (this is a training session for a couple of them, after all) and was amused by their struggle to keep their new knife-wielding star in line. 

“Vacancy 2: The First Cut” is not coming to a theater near you. It’s scheduled for video release January 20, 2009.  Don’t roll your eyes at the thought of direct-to-video right off. Give it a chance and enjoy it for what it is. It will probably be a good time for those of you who liked the first one and may convince those of you who watch this first to go find the original. It’s far better than many sequels of the big-name slice-and-dicers and finally gives a worthy, established member of the slasher’s guild an identity of his own.