Entertainment
Kate Beckinsale's Overlooked R-Rated 2000s Thriller Will Make You Think Twice About Stopping For The Night
By Robert Scucci
| Updated
Films set almost entirely at shady, run down motels are a dime a dozen, and once you’ve seen about a dozen of them, you’re pretty much set for life. I keep looking for them, however, because every so often I stumble upon hidden gems like Identity (2003), Looking Glass (2018), or Strange Darling (2023). I’m now adding 2007’s Vacancy to the list because, despite some clear logistical issues I have with the film, it remains a fun, tight survival thriller about a broken-down couple who just need to make it through the night after checking into the worst possible place to rest before getting back on the road.
If you’re hypercritical about continuity or the use of plot armor that allows a story to move toward its logical conclusion, there will most certainly be moments where you roll your eyes at Vacancy. But I say to heck with it, because it’s acted well, shot well, has a unique enough premise to keep you interested, and delivers enough close calls to make you forget about most of the logical shortcomings you’ll run into.
Couple Breaks Down In Both A Literal And Figurative Sense
When we’re first introduced to Amy (Kate Beckinsale) and David Fox (Luke Wilson), Vacancy makes it very clear that their marriage is on the rocks. They’re on the way back from a family gathering, and Amy doesn’t mince words when she talks about how unhappy she is with how everything went, mostly due to David’s attitude (author’s note: she’s not a joy to be around either). David is preoccupied with using a map he doesn’t know how to read while navigating the backroads because the interstate is jammed up due to a car wreck.
Familiar setup aside, we’re brought to our central conflict when the car breaks down (after seeing a mechanic, no less), forcing David and Amy to stay at a motel run by Mason (Frank Whaley), a man who looks like he only experiences two emotions: menacing rage, and sometimes not. Their introduction to him involves hearing what sounds like somebody being brutally murdered in the back office, only for Mason to casually explain that he likes listening to snuff films when he gets lonely.
Figuring they’re only going to be laying low until they can get their car into an auto shop the next day, they vow to sleep with their clothes on, with David even suggesting they keep their shoes on so they don’t contract any diseases from the bedding. While flipping through a stack of unlabeled VHS tapes provided in the room as a form of entertainment, or something, David and Amy are horrified to learn that the screaming they heard probably came from the kind of videos they’re now watching: footage of people being murdered in the exact room they’re staying in.
From this point forward, Vacancy goes into straight-up survival mode as Amy and David learn what Mason is really up to, which is made worse by the fact that he’s clearly not working alone. Masked men are also on the premises, surveying the other, allegedly vacant rooms. Knowing this may be their last night alive if they don’t act fast, Amy and David have to set aside their differences, hatch an escape plan, and outsmart the violent men waiting on the other side of the door.
Some Of This Makes Zero Sense, But It’s Fine
When you see the lengths Mason and his goons take to terrorize Amy and David, certain things about Vacancy stop making sense. For one thing, Mason has a key to every room, so what’s stopping him from entering theirs whenever he feels like it? It’s even suggested that he already did before things got crazy (but I won’t reveal any spoilers here). What’s more, this is a cheap motel that likely doesn’t have bulletproof glass, so it makes little sense that Mason wouldn’t simply drive his truck through the front of the building if he truly wanted to murder his new guests before they escaped and contacted the authorities.
On one hand, I fully understand why a repeat offender who’s likely been operating as a serial killer for years doesn’t want to damage his base of operations or draw attention to himself. But the night depicted in Vacancy is different because his would-be victims aren’t sticking to the script. At some point, the idea of doing whatever it takes to keep his operation intact, structural damage included, should have at least crossed his mind, but it never really does.
At the end of the day, though, this minor nitpick doesn’t really matter because the acting is on point across the board. Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale are believable as David and Amy because they look genuinely terrified, and they grow through that terror together, realizing they need to join forces despite their initial animosity toward one another. David steps up, and Amy is either receptive to his plans or offers constructive input that benefits both of them when they run out of options.
Frank Whaley as Mason is the real deal maker if you’re on the fence about giving Vacancy a chance. He’s got this Norman Bates energy, sans mommy issues, and he’s generally just creepy all around. But he’s creepy in that “Ned Flanders has finally snapped” kind of way that makes for an entertaining watch because you don’t know if he’s simply an eccentric loner. He’s clearly a bad guy from the moment you meet him, but he’s also set in his ways and seems generally nonthreatening until there’s a compelling reason to believe he’s about to cause some serious problems.
Vacancy, currently streaming for free on Tubi, is in many ways a by-the-numbers creepy motel thriller, but it stands on its own thanks to its small but reliable cast, setting, and tight runtime that keeps it from wearing out its welcome. If I had to call it anything, I’d call it reliable, and if you’re simply looking for a passive watch that burns through the usual tropes you’re familiar with, you’ll feel right at home here.
Entertainment
The smartest language lessons still start with human experts
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Plus, the biggest win is that the lessons were created by 100+ professional linguists, not just bots.
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Whether your goal is planning an overseas trip, connecting with family, or simply learning something new, Babbel offers a flexible way to build practical language skills at your own pace.
A lifetime of Babbel Language Learning is available for just $159 (reg. $299) through July 31, making it an easy way to invest in a skill you can keep using for years.
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Entertainment
Meta avoids another trial over social media harms as teen plaintiff drops lawsuit
Meta has skirted another jury over claims its platforms are facilitating a youth mental health crisis.
The company was set to go to trial in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles next week, but the 15-year-old plaintiff, referred to as R.K.C, has now dropped the lawsuit.
“In light of the overall successful result of the litigation and his concerns about enduring a grueling weeks-long trial, he has elected to withdraw his claims against Meta. He’s ready to close this chapter and focus on his recovery and engage in therapy as he aspires to have a normal life,” attorneys for R.K.C. said in a statement.
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According to the lawsuit, R.K.C. said he became addicted to social media over the last seven years, and linked his anxiety and depression to extensive time online. Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube were also named in the initial lawsuit, but the companies reached settlement deals with R.K.C prior to going in front of the jury.
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“Days after settling with other social media companies, the plaintiff dropped his case against Meta, the only remaining defendant, without receiving any payment,” a Meta spokesperson said following the news. “The claims never held up, and this outcome makes clear that we will not back away from defending ourselves against baseless lawsuits.”
Meta’s spokesperson said the facts of the case could not prove that the company’s platforms caused R.K.C.’s mental health struggles. Meta previously called attention to the fact that R.K.C. had not spent significant amounts of time on Meta platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, in a Motion for Summary Judgment. The company also said they could not verify that R.K.C. had a long-standing account history on Meta platforms.
In March, Meta and YouTube were ordered to pay $6 million to another teen plaintiff who accused multiple social media companies of knowingly investing in design features that would hook users, despite knowing of their potential harm. The jury found the two companies liable for mental health-related harms caused by negligent design features and “social media addiction.” It was the first time a jury found social media companies responsible for the psychological effects of their platforms on teens.
At the time, Meta said it was appealing the decision. The company has faced multiple lawsuits brought forth by teens, parents, school districts, and state leaders. “Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app,” a Meta spokesperson said following the March verdict. “We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously as every case is different, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online.”
Entertainment
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 23, 2026
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you’re a frequent flyer.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
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Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Yellow: Rounded
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Green: Nervous Nancy
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Blue: Catch a flight
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Purple: Math words
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Here are today’s Connections categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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Yellow: Spherical things
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Green: In an anxious state
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Blue: Parts of an airport
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Purple: Ending in geometry terms
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections #1138 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
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Spherical things: BASEBALL, GLOBE,
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In an anxious state: EXCITED, FEBRILE, FRENETIC, INTENSE
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Parts of an airport: PINS, SNAPS, TWEETS, VINES
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Ending in geometry terms: APPOINT, DEPLANE, FELINE, JANGLE
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today’s puzzle.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
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