Rating: 
Summary: Powerful beyond belief--real horror
Review: "The Vanishing" is one of the most terrifying films I've ever seen, but not in the usual sense of the word "terror". This is disturbing in a way not done since Hitchcock or Bergman. While many will mistake this for a "thriller" or a mere tale of kidnapping, etc, but there is something going on here that suggests far more than the (extremely intriguing, suffice to say) story. This is a horror film about the human condition itself. If he wasn't dead, I would have thought Camus had directed it. Beneath the calm facade of everyday life lies arbitrariness and chaos--absurdity. On a beautiful day Saskia, a gorgeous young French woman, simply disappears after going into buy a soft drink for her boyfriend as they are on a biking trip together. She never emerges. The reason, which is indeed horrible, is not so significant as the fact--she simply disappears. Her boyfriend's descent into near madness via obsession rivals many classic movies I would consider sacred. How can a human being with friends, lovers, parents, etc, disappear into thin air? Where is the justice, the knowing?
This, I believe, is what the director is trying to convey--there is none, and at no point does ultimate knowledge about anything enter our lives.The ending is horrifying but absolutely necessary, which is why the remake is nothing but a waste of celluloid. The most significant scene is the dialogue between the kidnapper and Saskia's boyfriend during the downpour near the gas station. The key to his motive for this atrocity is "the eternal not knowing"--he wants someone to share the pain of life's complete uncertainty. A masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: A marvelous movie, but a disappointing DVD
Review: "The Vanishing" is an excellent movie for those who like thrillers with a strong sense of realism. The movie itself is worthy of five stars. Unfortunately, the DVD fails to take advantage of the qualities inherent in the DVD medium. The picture format is standard rather than widescreen. Additionally, the subtitles are always on and they sometimes cover a full third of the screen. Thus, for those who would like to turn the subtitles off and get a really good look at the picture, albeit at standard version picture, this DVD will be a disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Very suspense full, much better than the US version
Review: A creepy thriller that keeps you guessing all the way to the end. The US version doesn't even compare to the original.
Rating:
Summary: A Horror Film In Every Sense Of The Word
Review: A disturbing movie that will take you into realms usually reserved for Poe and Lovecraft, "The Vanishing," directed by George Sluizer, is a dark tale that takes you into the twisted mind of a man named Raymond Lemorne (Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu), with implications that are truly frightening. While on vacation, a young couple, Rex Hofman (Gene Bervoets) and Saskia Wagter (Johanna ter Steege), stop at a crowded rest area. While he fills the car with gas, she goes into the store for some drinks. And she never comes back. And, lest the scenario seem too improbable or implausible, Sluizer proceeds to take you back through the days preceding the mysterious disappearance; and once you meet Raymond, you begin to understand what happened, and how. And when you finally know, it's as terrifying as anything you could possibly imagine. On the surface, Raymond appears to be a rather "normal" individual; he's married, with two children, and teaches science. He and his wife, Simone (Bernadette Le Sache), have recently purchased a country home which they are gradually restoring, and spend some time there with their children whenever they can. But hidden beneath Raymond's reserved and respected exterior is a sociopath capable of actions so heinous it defies comprehension. Leading up to the day of the vanishing, the film alternates between scenes of Rex and Saskia vacationing, and Raymond, as he methodically plans and calculates his cold-blooded crime. And it's chilling, watching him prepare and fine-tune each step so matter-of-factly, as if he were staking out a new garden or planning a picnic with the family. It's unsettling, watching Rex and Saskia going about their business, blissfully unaware of the terror that awaits them. What puts the real bite into the impact of this film is the way it's presented; this is no boogeyman-in-the-closet or "slasher" type horror film-- it goes way beyond that and takes you into a very real world of very real horror. Early on, of course, you know that Raymond is responsible for Saskia's disappearance. But don't have a clue as to what he's done with her or where she is-- dead or alive-- until the very end of the film. The second half of the film concentrates on Hofman's obsessive quest to find out what happened to Saskia. Three years have elapsed, and he still doesn't have a clue (and neither does the audience at this point). Then something happens, something is revealed, and you follow along with Rex as he pursues the single clue he's been given after all this time. And as you watch him desperately trying to uncover the truth, you begin to hope with all your heart that he does. Because after a point it becomes excruciatingly clear that if he fails, you'll never know what happened, either. Ter Steege lends an earthy vitality to the role of Saskia, with a performance that is entirely convincing and very real. Bervoets does a good job as well, credibly expressing the myriad emotional levels that Rex experiences. And Donnadieu, as Raymond, is absolutely disconcerting, exhibiting an off-handed nonchalance that evokes the image of a lion patiently stalking his prey. The supporting cast includes Gwen Eckhaus (Lieneke), Tania Latarjet (Denise), Lucille Glenn (Gabrielle), David Bayle (Raymond at 16), Roger Souza (Manager) and Caroline Appere (Cashier). A sobering film that kind of sneaks up on you, "The Vanishing" does what most horror movies never really do-- it makes your skin crawl. The ending is rather startling in it's simplicity; it may even leave you nonplused for awhile. But once you've had some time to think about it and assimilate what actually happened, be prepared for a sleepless night or two. This is one that just isn't going to leave you alone.
Rating:
Summary: "ONE - FOR THE ROAD"
Review: A genital freezing movie [for the guys] not sure how it strikes the gals, but strike it does! A "gasping for air" mega-punch down there! A minor lover's spat "on the road" turns catastrophic, and there's no turning back. The girl disappears, without a trace, in broad daylight at a heavily populated truck-stop. The boy becomes obsessed about this disappearance - where is she? What happened? An all too common scenario, especially today. Later, the mysterious notes, letters, etc. appear, tantalizing....... Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, a worthy brother to our Hannibal rivets with this "portrait of another serial collector", and what a collector, he rivals Terence Stamp's performance in Wiliam Wyler's [similarly themed] "The Collector"! It's a nasty journed through a demented mind, with a suitable conclusion. Here's mud in your eye! See this one, alone in a cold, dark house, then check all the doors and windows carefully. Another companion piece? Gert Froebe "Assault in Broad Daylight" - slightly different, but another "one the road" movie, also "The Night Digger" Nicholas Clay. The remake - also the same director, different ending - disappoints. The original title "Spoorloos" actually translates to "Traceless" - better title! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Well made psychological thriller.
Review: A very understated (although some might say boring) evenly, paced film -- yet it it somehow kept my attention to the disturbing end. Haven't seen the US remake to make any comparisons. Unfortunately at the premium Criterion price, one would expect some extras beyond the standard trailer.
Rating: 
Summary: OMG people!! this is the worst!
Review: Are all you on crack or just politically correct? There is nothing scary, creepy, or remotely spine chilling about this movie. It's silly to say the least. Wow he buries them alive and that's the end. Booooooooorrrrrrrrrrrring... and I've seen a lot of scary movies. What in the hell scared you people? I would love to know. This movie isn't worth the 90 minutes I spent watching it or .02. Some people gave it 5 stars????? The Excorist deserves 5 stars, the Omen, Amityville Horror 1 and 2, Pet Sematary, the Changeling, the Fog, etc get 4 or 5 stars. This is nonsense!
Rating:
Summary: Don't Let It Vanish From Your DVD Library!
Review: Bravo to the filmmakers for this international psychological thriller! I found this film to be one of the best suspense pictures I have ever seen.
The film takes place in France as a Dutch couple is about to embark on a vacation together. After stopping at a highway rest stop their lives change forever and with an eerie foreboding that lingers throughout the entire film. The couple is played by Gene Bervoets and Johanna ter Steege with convincing roles as innocent lovers who never suspect danger lurking in their paths.
Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu is brilliant as the sociopath mathematician who stalks women at rest stops throughout the film. He is the perfect villain, an unsuspecting and happy family man who commutes between his city home and country home all the while plotting with numbers and calculations to capture gullible women and commit some mysterious act on them. Donnadieu is creepy and scary without doing anything obvious to portray himself that way. The uneasiness that surrounds him is comparable to some of the best American suspense films involving psychopaths. He decides from an early age to go against the odds and jump from buildings just because the probability factor is so remote that he would ever do so. This act then extends into adulthood and begins his current quest. The filmmakers never reveal exactly what Donnadieu is attempting but you will be glued to this film so that you can find out.
The ending of this film is phenomenal.....one of the best ever! It will send shivers up and down your spine. For suspense lovers this is a must own DVD for the French scenery, the creepy evil that lurks in its corners and the ever present sense of dread.
Rating:
Summary: Freaking brilliant, Thinking Man's Thriller
Review: First off, shame on the previous reviewers who gave away the ending. Yeah, if you've seen the blasphemously bad remake w/ Kiefer Sutherland (by the same director no less!), you know the ending. Nonetheless, this movie is more than the tension. The characters are strong (particularly the villain), many of the visuals are strikingly visceral, and this nicely contrasts w/ the philosophical storyline. The villain is one of the most original villains in Film. He is an intellectual creature, not driven by anger or childhood trauma or emotional prejudice...rather cold, hard logic. His premises may be unsound, but you can at least you can understand the method to his madness. They simply don't make movies, yet alone thrillers, like this anymore. Taking Lives? Your average Ashley Judd film? Puke. This is the type of movie for people who like Seven, Memento, Requiem for a Dream, Identity...not for the sunshine pumpers, I assure you. But fiction *should* test our boundaries and make us uncomfortable... Don't see the remake. The remake trashes all the poetry and poignancy of the original.
Rating:
Summary: Slightly Above Average
Review: First, by no means should you view the trailer before watching the main feature. Second, 'The Vanishing' is a slightly above average thriller that fails to deliver at the end. While driving on vacation, a couple pulls into a rest stop. The wife walks inside a convenience store and vanishes. Three years later, the husband is still searching for her. He thinks he may have found a lead when he's contacted by a strange man who seems to have pertinent information. The nuances, the acting, the camerawork, everything is done very well up until the end of the film. I would not dream of giving away the ending, but I was not at all surprised or impressed with the resolution. I doubt you will be either. 1 hour, 42 minutes
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