Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.
The Vanishing is one of the most terrifying movies I’ve ever seen…Not because it’s a slasher, or horror flick but because of what it doesn’t show. I’ve watched it twice now and on the second go round noticed little details I didn’t notice the first time.
The central story starts when a young couple from Amsterdam, (Saskia and Rex), are on a cycling holiday in the South of France…They seem to be in love and playful as any couple can be. That is, until they run out of gas inside of a dark tunnel. We then find out she is afraid of being left alone in the dark..(A fear that will play into the story later on). But Rex has to leave and, with his gas can in hand, tells her he will return shortly. She has to stay with the car and is not to happy about this situation, not at all! When he returns to an empty car he's alarmed but quickly finds her just outside the tunnel. They fight, then make up and continue on their way...But first, they do have to stop at the nearest service station.
It is then the real trouble starts.
She decides to go inside to pick up a few drinks and snacks as he fills his gastank. Before that though, while they are making up, he promises never to abandon her again…She playfully leaves, waving at him as she enters the mini mart, happy with his promise.
In another scene we meet Raymond, a weird sort of guy, whose story we find out is quite strange. He’s a family man with a double life. He seems to have a compulsion, one that is very evil and, as his story unfolds, I felt chills go up and down my spine. Especially when watching him practice how to kidnap a helpless victim by various means…One method he contemplates is to use a fake sling on his arm, (ala Ted Bundy), another, to use chloroform and even knocks himself out by accident.
Saskia meets Raymond in this mini mart, and I want to scream at her, don't talk to him, don’t go with him...stay away, but alas she wouldn’t hear me anyway…We never do see her again, nor does Rex.
Rex is devastated when she doesn't reappear out of the mini mart, he waits for her and waits and waits...Time passes. Remembering the promise he made to her he vows to find her, never to abandon her.
Three years pass, he has kept up his search, posting pictures of Saskia where ever he can, going on news shows to ask if anyone has seen her, all that necessary things one does in order to find a missing loved one who just vanished without a trace. He has a new girlfriend but his obsession manages to destroy that relationship when he spends all his spare time following leads that go nowhere… Rex admits he would rather find out what happened to Saskia then anything else, that he will never give up trying to solve the mystery, so his new girlfriend gives up all hope of competing with that fixation.
The story unfolds in different layers. At first a little confusing but it wasn’t long before I figured out which was the past and the present when I realized that the past storyline was accented by announcements of the Tour de France on the radio which was going on the day Saskia disappeared.
Meanwhile, Raymond is seen with his family at the little isolated chateau where they live. He also is fascinated by Rex and his perserverance whenever he sees him on TV talking about the disappearance...We know he is psychotic which is demonstrated as we watch him play a mean trick on his daughter when he leaves spiders in a drawer and tells her to look for something in that drawer one beautiful day while the family is dining outside. Another scene takes place in the past, when he was 16 years old, as he jumps off a balcony just to see if he can do it.
While he watches Rex on TV he hatches a new plan and sends a message to him to asking him to meet him. At the meeting site Raymond doesn’t approach him at first. But eventually he does and this cat and mouse game continues. When he does come forth and they are face to face he asks Rex, do you really want to know what happened to Saskia? I have to know, I need to know, says Rex…Please, don’t go with him, I wanted to scream, yet I want to know too. Well then, you must share the same experience as she did, he tells Rex. Oh Oh...
That’s all I will reveal in this review, I really don’t want to spoil the entire story and the ending, other then to say it’s a shocker and will send chills down your spine as it did mine…What happened to Saskia? What will happen to Rex? And Raymond? Does he ever get his just rewards? What is the ultimate nightmare?
This is a compelling and terrifying movie on many levels and I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys this type of genre, though enjoy might be too simplistic a word to use. I found myself fascinated by the stories of these characters, so much so that I watched the movie again the next day. I also enjoyed the scenery in the countryside trying to figure out just where in France the film was shot as I always do in French films. The subtitles are easy to read and do not detract from the action on screen. The acting was superb as was the direction. One thing I want to mention. The director, George Sluizer, remade The Vanishing a few years after this in another version, starring Kiefer Sutherland and Jeff Bridges, but he changed the ending which I just don’t understand…It was the ending in this version that gave the film the shocking and chilling feel it had…I’ve seen that second version and it just doesn’t compare. This movie has a lasting creepiness that stays with you and if you see it again as I did the second time, even though you know what’s coming, it takes on a more compelling, tragic feeling. I still want to yell at the screen, don’t go, don’t do it!
A few more facts
The Cast
Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu - Raymond Lemorne
Gene Bervoets - Rex Hofman
Johanna ter Steege - Saskia Wagter
Based on a book called “The Golden Egg,” By Tim Krabbe. In the film Saskia had a dream in which she was floating in a Golden Egg .
This has been my 400th review...So, in order to celebrate, I want to throw a little party, or as they are called in epinionland, a write/off. Those that have read my reviews over the years know I am a certifiable Francophile so the theme of this write/off will be “Favorite French Finds”...The idea is that you write a review about anything with a French theme...You don’t have to have been to France to have an item you would like to write about, if you have, then what did you see or where did you go that left an impression...Do you have a favorite French Perfume or After shave? A Cosmetic? A favorite French restaurant? Book? Or a Movie that is French or filmed in France. What about a fine French wine or Cordial? You get the idea...I hope you join in the fun, just drop me a line at my e-mail address or leave the link in a comment and I’ll post it here...Hopefully this will be a good party with many attendees and will be ongoing until Bastile Day, July 14th...:)
Merci Beaucoup!
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