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Heist movies are designed for action and suspense. Even under normal circumstances, the planning, the problems, and the execution can keep viewers on the edge of their seats. But The Vault takes a high-stakes heist and sets it in the middle of an international sporting championship to crank up the tension and excitement.
The Vault sets out to retrieve valuable treasure from the impenetrable safe under the Bank of Spain in Madrid. After a team of adventurers led by Walter Moreland (Liam Cunningham) loses a priceless treasure to a ruling of the International Court of Justice, they decide to break into the vault and steal it. But the vault itself is a mystery—and, reportedly, a “miracle of engineering.” So, in order to complete the job, they bring in young engineering genius Thom (Freddie Highmore) to figure out what they’re up against—and then how to get in and back out with the treasure.
Before the team can pull off the heist, they have a lot of work to do. The film pulls everything together quickly, giving the team and the job a brief introduction before racing through the planning process. The characters don’t get a whole lot of development; instead, they all just jump right into the job. They face challenges and setbacks through every part of the plan, giving the film plenty of tension at every step.
All of the team’s reconnaissance and surveillance eventually build up to the final moment of truth. And as all of Madrid gathers in front of the bank to watch the World Cup Final on the huge screens set up in the neighboring square, the team rushes to do the job, knowing they’ve got just 105 minutes until the game is over—and so is their cover. The tight timeline adds to the tension as the suspense builds both inside the bank, where the team quietly, carefully plans each move, and outside, where the raucous spectators are cheering on their team.
As it speeds through everything from the setup and introductions to the planning and execution, the film doesn’t necessarily make for the brainiest, most detailed of heist movies. In racing forward, it leaves plenty of questions left unanswered—and that can definitely be frustrating at times. But it’s an action-packed crime thriller that’s still fun for some brainless weekend entertainment.
If you enjoy the high stakes and fast pace of a heist movie, The Vault is worth a look. It isn’t an exceptional thriller, but the action and suspense make it an entertaining one.
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