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Horror thriller

The Vault (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Vault (2017) movie poster

The Vault is a 2017 horror thriller directed by Dan Bush, starring James Franco as Ed Maas, Jeff Gum and Clifton Collins Jr.. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $346,729 worldwide on a $5 million budget. Critics gave it 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 50 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.9/10.

IMDb rating
4.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
60%
worldwide gross
$346.7K
Echo Score
60
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The Vault (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Dan Bush
Genres
Thriller , Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Vault About?

The premise of The Vault without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Two estranged sisters must team up for a high-stakes heist to save their brother’s life. Their target is a bank thought to be impenetrable, and as they delve into its complex vaults, they discover a dangerous secret. The sisters find themselves facing unexpected obstacles and a sinister truth that puts their lives and everything they value at risk in this action-packed thriller.

The Vault Themes & Keywords

· 33 tags
  • bank
  • bank robbery
  • sister sister relationship
  • ghost
  • supernatural horror
  • negotiator
  • suicide
  • weapon
  • brother sister relationship
  • sibling team
  • death of brother
  • burned to death
+21 more
  • haunting
  • gory death
  • debt
  • psychopath
  • mass murder
  • trauma
  • unable to urinate
  • brother protects sister
  • family relationships
  • violence
  • gore
  • murdered with a drill
  • fire
  • basement
  • shot in the back of the head
  • shot to death
  • execution
  • arson
  • heist
  • female pedal pumping
  • male and female protagonists
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Cast & crew

The Vault Cast & Characters

James Franco leads the cast as Ed Maas, with Jeff Gum as Officer James Aiken and Clifton Collins Jr. as Detective Tom Iger. Directed by Dan Bush; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Vault

· 6 more
From the director

More from Dan Bush

More films directed by Dan Bush, best-rated first: The Signal, The Dark Red, The Reconstruction of William Zero and Billy The Kid: New Evidence.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Vault Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Vault 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 50 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

60 /100

The Vault Echo Score Breakdown

In its genre blending of heist and horror, The Vault demonstrates occasional strengths in performance and production design but is hindered by predictable plotting and uneven tone. While critics noted fine work from the cast and moments of polished craft, many pointed to a formulaic structure and slow pacing once supernatural elements appear. User feedback echoes these observations, praising the initial premise but lamenting the film’s lack of originality. Overall, the film offers moderate entertainment but falls short of a lasting impression.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 70

    Art & Craft benefits from competent production design and sleek cinematography but lacks a distinct visual identity. Reviews highlight polished camera work and elegant styling in set design, yet some found the overall look to feel generic or reminiscent of direct-to-video releases. The direction delivers solid framing, but the film rarely ventures into bold or memorable visual territory. Net result: capable craftsmanship without striking innovation.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    Character & Emotion is anchored by capable performances from the ensemble cast and effective chemistry in key scenes. Observers praised the actors’ nuanced portrayals and genuine interactions, contributing to moments of authentic engagement. However, some viewers felt the characters remained underdeveloped and that emotional stakes never fully resonated. The result is a generally solid display of acting that falls short of deeper character immersion.

  • Story & Flow 55

    Story & Flow follows a straightforward genre framework that blends bank heist conventions with supernatural elements but struggles with predictability. The premise is engaging at first, yet many accounts describe a sluggish progression once the horror aspects commence, and a twist that feels anticipated. Pacing varied between brisk planning sequences and slow-burn segments. Overall, the narrative offers moderate interest but lacks fresh originality.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    Sensory Experience delivers a clean auditory and visual presentation but seldom achieves immersive intensity. The soundtrack and sound design are serviceable, though occasional audio inconsistencies were noted. Visually, the film maintains a glossy style and coherent palette, but critics suggest it stops short of creating a truly distinctive atmosphere. In sum, the sensory elements are polished yet seldom striking.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    Rewatch Factor is modest, with initial engagement from the genre mash-up likely fading on subsequent viewings. While the film’s craftsmanship and occasional thrills may prompt a revisit, the predictability of plot developments and limited character depth diminish enduring appeal. In conclusion, the movie offers some enjoyment but does not compellingly reward multiple viewings.

Plot

The Vault Plot Summary

What happens in The Vault from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film begins with newspaper clippings highlighting a bank robbery that escalated into a prolonged standoff, culminating in a dramatic scene featuring a masked figure brandishing a lighter. This unsettling imagery transitions to a billowing cloud of smoke and the urgent sound of fire trucks racing to the scene.

In the confines of the bank, Ed Maas, played by James Franco, stands isolated in a break-room, accompanied by disturbing visuals, including the same masked man seen earlier and ominous figures adorned with bloody bags over their heads. The unsettling atmosphere intensifies with close-ups of Ed’s anxious expression.

Full summary

The whole story of The Vault, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Vault Box Office & Budget

The Vault grossed $346,729 worldwide on a $5 million budget, 7% of what it cost. $5,728 came from the US and Canada and $341,001 (98%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$346.7K

7% of its budget back

US & Canada
$5.7K
International
$341K
Budget
$5M
US & Canada 2% Rest of the world 98%
Videos

The Vault Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Vault.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Vault?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What job position does Ed hold at the bank?

Cars

Cars in The Vault

6 cars on screen, including the Jeep Wrangler and the 2006 Dodge Charger.

All 6 cars
  • Jeep Wrangler in The Vault Jeep Wrangler Important role
  • 2006 Dodge Charger in The Vault 2006 Dodge Charger Minor role
  • 2009 Ford Crown Victoria in The Vault 2009 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
  • 2009 GMC Sierra in The Vault 2009 GMC Sierra Background role
Details

The Vault Also Known As

18 alternative titles, including “더 볼트” and “Хранилище”.

Also known as
  • 더 볼트
  • Хранилище
  • Seiful
  • Ölüm Odasi
  • Sejf
  • La bóveda
  • A széf
  • The Safe - Niemand wird verschont
  • The Vault - La rapina maledetta
  • Сховище
  • Трезорът
  • O Cofre
+6 more
  • 地下室
  • 惡靈金庫
  • Trezor
  • Ölüm Odası
  • ザ・ボルト
  • ปล้นมฤตยู

Seen The Vault?

FAQ

The Vault FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Vault, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Vault?

The Vault runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was The Vault released?

The Vault was released on September 1, 2017.

Who directed The Vault?

The Vault was directed by Dan Bush.

More films by Dan Bush

Who is in the cast of The Vault?

The Vault stars James Franco as Ed Maas, Jeff Gum as Officer James Aiken and Clifton Collins Jr. as Detective Tom Iger, among 10 credited actors.

How much did The Vault make at the box office?

The Vault grossed $346,729 worldwide ($5,728 domestic, $341,001 international) on a budget of $5 million.

How is The Vault rated?

The Vault has 4.9/10 on IMDb, 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, 50 on Metacritic and 49% on TMDB.

Does The Vault have a post-credit scene?

No. The Vault has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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