The Vanishing (1993)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

George Sluizer

Writers (WGA):

Tim Krabbé (novel)
Todd Graff (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

If someone you loved mysteriously vanished how far out of your mind would you go to find them?

Plot:

The boyfriend of an abducted woman never gives up the search as the abductor looks on.

Plot Keywords:

Villain Played By Lead Actor | Kidnapping | Father Daughter Relationship | Remake | Amusement Park

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Jeff Bridges	...	Barney Cousins
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Jeff Harriman
Nancy Travis	...	Rita Baker
Sandra Bullock	...	Diane Shaver
Park Overall	...	Lynn
Maggie Linderman	...	Denise Cousins
Lisa Eichhorn	...	Helene Cousins
George Hearn	...	Arthur Bernard
Lynn Hamilton	...	Miss Carmichael
Garrett Bennett	...	Cop at Gas Station (as Gareth Bennett)
George Catalano	...	Highway Cop
Frank Girardeau	...	Cop at Apartment
Stephen Bridgewater	...	TV Host (as Stephen Wesley Bridgewater)
Susan Barnes	...	Colleague
Rich Hawkins	...	Stan

MPAA:

Rated R for terror and violence, and for language.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Netherlands:16 | Italy:VM14 | Argentina:16 | Chile:14 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bellevue, Washington, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

With a budget set at $20 million, this US remake cost over 10 times what George Sluizer's original Dutch version had in 1988.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Diane is being attacked by Barney in his car, her keys land outside of the passenger door along with the drinks. Once Diane is unconscious, Barney shuts the door and drives off, yet he has the keys three years later to show Jeff.

Quotes:

Helene Cousins: Look, he put up a new one. I heard him on Talk Radio. Every month he puts up a new one.
Barney Cousins: Every 30 days, you could set your watch by it.
Helene Cousins: He must have loved her very much.
Barney Cousins: ...I do admire his perseverance.

Movie Connections:

References Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Soundtrack:

QUITTIN' TIME

An underrated tension cranker

George Sluizer's underrated remake of his overrated original doesn't really feel like an American film. Until the end. That's when it blunders past what should be the shocking denouement and goes on for another 20 minutes, like something out of 'The Player'. But if you can ignore that compromise then there's a huge amount to admire in this low-key cracker. It's thoughtfully directed – cracking close-up of Kiefer Sutherland as he talks to the cop; shocking yikes! bit when Jeff Bridges hides behind the door – and uses striking locations and a weird, creepy score to drum up an off-kilter atmosphere, helped along by Bridges's superbly odd performance. The finale aside, I can't understand why it's so lambasted.