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: A masterful tale that truly chills the viewer to the bone.
Review: This is one of my favorite films( which says a lot considering that I have seen almost every movie made)! It is rare that a film can flesh out real characters and take us somewhere we don not want to go. Two lovers on a road trip. At a gas station she disappears. Her lover becomes obsessed with what has happened and he spends years and falls into financial ruin searching ...searching. One day, years after she has disappeared he appears on television as a followup news program begging one last time to know what happened to his lover. He informs everyone that if someone knows what became of the woman please contact him. Even in secrecy because not knowing what happened to her is driving him insane. The killer and the young man meet and the killer puts a sedative in the coffee and asks the man to drink. Drink and you shall know exactly what the girl felt. The ending is truly shocking. Sadly the inferior American version with Jeff Bridges and Keifer Sutherland trashes this masterpiece because American audiences want a happy ending. I am sure most reviewers will not remember this version so watch the original version that is subtitled. I cannot believe that the same director helmed both pictures.
Rating: 
Summary: Scary? Not! Chilling? Not! Interesting? Maybe
Review: I have to agree with the reviewer who was totally shocked at the descriptions of this film by other reviewers. After reading reviews that described the film as SHOCKING! CHILLING! NIGHTMARISH! I decided to finally purchase this dvd after hesitating for a few months. I'm sorry - but I was highly disappointed. I consider myself a horror fan of sorts and I'm not normally into the blood and gore type of films, prefering "psychological thrillers" instead. This film was neither. Do yourself a favor before purchasing this movie and RENT IT FIRST!!!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent film, but SO WAS THE REMAKE
Review: OK, first of all, I'd like to agree with most everyone here that this is an excellent movie. It only barely misses getting five stars from me, which I think should be reserved only for the VERY BEST of all time. My problem with most of the reviews is that they're saying that the American remake is a worthless piece of drivel, and that just isn't true. I think that Jeff Bridges gives just as fine a performance playing the sociopath as does Donnadieu in this film, if not slightly better. Kiefer Sutherland is also just as believable as the boyfriend desperate to find out what happened to his vanished lover. And I think that the original version, if you're watching it for the first time without already knowing the story, fails to make it clear to the viewer at first that certain scenes of the sociopath's life are flashbacks leading up to the abduction, instead of occuring immediately afterwards; I saw the remake first, and I didn't have that problem.
That said, because I'm a true horror fan, I DO prefer the original's ending over the remake's. BUT - and this is a very significant BUT - it's not that the remake CHANGES the ending, it ADDS TO the ending, leading to a "happy" (if you could call it that) conclusion. And I don't think that these added scenes are pointless afterthoughts to reach a more Hollywood ending - I get the feeling that, no matter how the novel The Golden Egg ended (which I can't seem to find anywhere), Sluizer intended this to be the ending all along. Without this ending, the relationship between the sociopath and his youngest daughter, as well as a significant element of the plotline introduced in the first version, is never fully explored, and the obsessive boyfriend's new love is never more than a throwaway character.
If you've never seen either version of this movie, here is my advice : buy the original (DEFINITELY at least see it first, to more fully take in and enjoy THAT ending), then rent the remake to see the LONGER ending. It may not be the best, but it IS worth seeing.
Rating:
Summary: The Vanishing has an ending worthy of Poe.
Review: The Vanishing starts out tamely enough with a dutch couple, Rex and Saskia, driving to France to do some cycling. They decide to stop for gas and refreshments and something extraordinary happens. Saskia inexplicably disappears. Rex looks everywhere for her, but she is not to be found. We think we know what has happened to Saskia because we have been introduced to an eccentric frenchman, Raymond, whom we have seen rehearsing his plan to abduct a woman selected randomly at a highway gas station and convenience store. Initially, we don't see him kidnap Saskia, but we are quite certain he has been successful in taking her away. Where we don't know, and to what fate we are not certain. Rex never gives up his search for his missing girlfriend. It becomes an obsession for him. He has posters made up and goes on television to appeal for help from the public. Eventually Raymond decides to send Rex clues and begins to lay a trap for him. While this film is a mystery and suspense plays a part in the interest the viewer takes in the action, it is much more upsetting than the typical Hollywood murder mystery. If we don't know why Raymond, the kidnapper, does what he does, we at least expect Rex to do what is necessary to bring him to justice. Yet no Hollywood ending is in store for us in this deeply disturbing film. Rex appears powerless to change the course of events that Raymond has set in motion and that lead to a horrific conclusion that rivals the best works of Edgar Allan Poe.
Rating:
Summary: Do you know what *fear* is?
Review: I've watched this movie several times, and I must admit I was shocked to see that some people find the film boring. If you do in fact pay any attention to the film you can delve deeply into the disturbed minds of both Raymond, Rex, and even Saskia. Raymond is obsessed with his own need to beat predestination, and the result is a complete lack of conscience on his part. People who lack a conscience are some of the most dangerous people alive. Rex himself is a warning. He became so obsessed with Saskia that he compelled himself to repeat her experience unto death. And that's just on the surface. This movie puts the "psychological" in psychological thriller, instead of just being a mystery to solve. Also, I was horrified to find that most people were not disturbed by the fact that Rex and Saskia were buried alive. You even see Rex wake up in his own coffin. Doesn't anyone realize how horrible that would be? That is a slow and agonizing death. No one can hear you scream, you can't get out, eventually you'll run out of air. If you find being buried alive boring I suggest you try it. It's an incredibly diabolical thing to do someone. There you lie, with the dirt pressing in all around you, doomed. And the fact that Raymond just didn't seem to care was also terrible. And he could get away with it. Anyone can go around shooting people or slashing around with a knife, but how many people can manage to bury two people alive. And there isn't a shred of suspicion attached to him. True he didn't torture Rex or rape Saskia, and if it's violence you're looking for you won't find it here. You also won't find this to be a whodunit story. But if you're looking for a *real* psychological thriller, this is it.
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: If you *really* want to know...
Review: I've seen a number of reviews of this movie, ranging from 'horrific' to 'outstanding' and I must say, I'm somewhat disappointed in the way some people are going about viewing the film. Don't be fooled by those who claim the movie 'sucks' just because it lacks today's special effects and gore. The Vanishing has potential for people of all ages. I, myself, am a mere senior in high school and was thoroughly horrified by the ending. It's true that today's society has been jaded by what is shown in the movies, on television - Heck, even in the news. Everywhere we look, it seems to be just more blood and gore. The wonderful thing about this movie is that it has the ability to reach through your heart, to your spine and just start twisting it about like a dog with a chew toy. It's true, there are no bloody decapitations or gut wrenching gore - but that's not what the movie was about. The movie was able to show an audience the ability of obsession to drive the very essence of your being to the point of no return (This could be said for either Rex or Raymond). We mustn't look at the movie from today's standards of what would be classified as 'horror'. We must open ourselves up to the horrifying truths of the conscious and the unconscious and allow the plot to drive us further towards the edge of our seats until the very last minute. Tell me, friends, would you consider yourselves obsessive over anything at all? If so, take a look at this movie. Let it capture your attention... let it move you... let it help you see yourselves in a way never before possible. THAT's what The Vanishing is all about.
Rating: 
Summary: "The man who wanted to know"...finds out.
Review: The French title (from the original trailer) is "The Man Who Wanted To Know". I suppose this sounds a bit vague for American audiences, hence "The Vanishing", which puts a bit of mystery into it. Others have pretty much covered the plot (and at least one a-hole gave away the ending), so I will not repeat it. I found the movie interesting, and even when you know "who dunnit" early on, you still don't know how he did it till the very end. I consider this more of a "psychological drama" than a "horror" film in a Friday the 13th mode. There is no blood or things popping out of shadows. The ending is creepy, no doubt, but it also seems to be quite logical in the overall scheme of things. The disconcerting part, beyond the outcome however, is the rather non-chalant attitude of the bad guy through out the movie and particularly the very last scene. We never really know what the root of his problem is, but I suppose it is not necessary. For a Criterion Collection DVD, there are very few "extras". A trailer (which does not count), required subtitles in a couple languages, and a 2-page written review. The liner notes tell us this is a new digital transfer (looks good) and the soundtrack was mastered from a 35mm magnetic track (sounded OK to me). Not for everyone, but I'm giving it 3 stars overall - slightly better than average - based on 4-star movie/2-star extras and relatively high price.
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!
|
