The Vault (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
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.
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 Show fewer
- 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
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.
- Director Dan Bush
-
James Franco as Ed Maas - Jeff Gum as Officer James Aiken
-
Clifton Collins Jr. as Detective Tom Iger -
Taryn Manning as Vee Dillon
Also Starring in The Vault
· 6 more- Scott Haze Michael Dillon
- Keith Loneker Cyrus
- Michael Milford Kramer
- Q'orianka Kilcher Susan Cromwell
- Francesca Fisher-Eastwood
- Jill Jane Clements Mary
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.
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).
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.
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IMDb 4.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 60% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 52%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 50 Metascore
User score 3.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 49% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.2 /5
1 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.6 /5
See on Movie Insider
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$346.7K
7% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $5.7K
- International
- $341K
- Budget
- $5M
The Vault Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Vault.
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What job position does Ed hold at the bank?
Cars in The Vault
6 cars on screen, including the Jeep Wrangler and the 2006 Dodge Charger.
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Jeep Wrangler Important role -
2006 Dodge Charger Minor role -
2009 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role -
2009 GMC Sierra Background role
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
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- 地下室
- 惡靈金庫
- Trezor
- Ölüm Odası
- ザ・ボルト
- ปล้นมฤตยู
Seen The Vault?
Movies Like The Vault
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Vault, Man in the Vault and The Last Heist.
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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