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Amazon.co.uk Review
It's not unusual for Hollywood to remake European hits. What is unusual is the director of the original getting the chance to helm the new version with an American cast, which is what happened with this film based on an intensely creepy Dutch film of the same name (both directed by George Sluizer). Kiefer Sutherland and Sandra Bullock are on vacation when, while stopped at a crowded rest area, she disappears. He devotes the next several years to discovering what happened to her, ruining his life in the process. When he does get a clue, it leads him to Jeff Bridges, who plays a bizarre and highly organized individual whose motives are almost as strange as he is. Bridges is spooky, but Sluizer ultimately is undone by Hollywood's demand for a happy ending, which makes this film affecting but far less unsettling than the original. --Marshall Fine
Amazon.co.uk Review
Forget Hitchcock, forget Brian De Palma, The Vanishing is one of the scariest, most disturbing thrillers ever made. Yet there's not a knife, a gun, or a drop of blood in sight. The terror in George Sluizer's film is wholly psychological, insidiously uncoiling itself before our incredulous eyes.
A young Dutch couple on holiday in France stop at a motorway service station, where the girl inexplicably vanishes. Desperately her boyfriend searches for her. Meanwhile, we're introduced to a dull, respectable French paterfamilias who, we gradually come to realise, is the man responsible for the girl's disappearance. But we don't know why, nor--yet more tantalisingly--what he's done with her. Neither does the boyfriend, for whom her disappearance becomes an obsession (the film's French title is L'Homme qui voulait savoir--"The Man Who Wanted to Know".) Finally, horribly, he finds out.
Operating quietly and cunningly, Sluizer keeps us constantly on edge. There's the unconventional plot structure, dropping us unexpectedly into what turns out to be an extended flashback; the twitchy disorientation of the hero, adrift in an alien language and culture (a shrewd use of the film's joint French/Dutch parentage); and above all the chillingly downbeat performance of Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu as the abductor, a living demonstration of the banality of evil.
The Vanishing is one of those rare movies that insinuates itself under the skin of the mind and cannot be dislodged. Ill-advisedly, Sluizer let himself be tempted to Hollywood to direct an English-language remake that jettisoned all the subtlety of the original and tacked on an inane happy ending. Shun that version; this is the one to go for.
On the DVD: The Vanishing comes to DVD with these slim pickings: the theatrical trailer, a filmography for Sluizer and a gallery of stills. But the transfer, digitally remastered in the original widescreen ratio, looks good and the sound matches it. --Philip Kemp
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Please notice that some of the reviews included here are actually of the poor American remake. This is the Dutch original, set in France, and is one of my favourite films. Take out the mistakenly included reviews and this film would presumably get the 5 stars it definitely deserves...
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Without doubt one of the creepiest and most memorable films I have ever seen. Obviously you should see it if you haven't. And if you have, you probably feel like adding it in your collection of all time greats.
I'm referring of course to the original Dutch/French version. Silly Amazon has muddled up the reviews with the US remake. Average 3 stars overall, of course, because everyone gives the original 5 and the remake 1!
I'm referring of course to the original Dutch/French version. Silly Amazon has muddled up the reviews with the US remake. Average 3 stars overall, of course, because everyone gives the original 5 and the remake 1!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The remake of The Vanishing is not all that bad to be honest,but as is the way the original 1988 Vanishing is the superior version but both movies kind of operate at different levels.
As to be expected the remake employs a sanitised Hollywood approach whilst the original basks in its european sensibilities.
The portrayal of a sociopath in the original is truly unnerving,capturing the banality of evil as the abductor test runs his kidnap plan,timing his moves to the second,picking up his daughters,having dinner with the wife....
This monster is far more terrifying to me then a hockey mask wearing kid with a mushy face.Its about total control.
The Vanishing is a taut thriller well worth watching....both versions.
As to be expected the remake employs a sanitised Hollywood approach whilst the original basks in its european sensibilities.
The portrayal of a sociopath in the original is truly unnerving,capturing the banality of evil as the abductor test runs his kidnap plan,timing his moves to the second,picking up his daughters,having dinner with the wife....
This monster is far more terrifying to me then a hockey mask wearing kid with a mushy face.Its about total control.
The Vanishing is a taut thriller well worth watching....both versions.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Decent Thriller
Decent movie and genuinely chilling at times but like all movies that are built up, its hard to produce the goods. Some great scenes in it though and the bad guy is excellent. Read more
Published 7 months ago by N. Blaney
Chilling
This will turn your blood to ice and you'll want to sleep with the lights on for many nights afterwards. The creepiness builds as the protagonist gets ever more desperate. Read more
Published 11 months ago by paul W
very pleased
My dvd arrived in just a couple of days and ive had no problems with it exelent condition! very pleased..
Published 19 months ago by Kal-el
RE: The Vanishing 5 Star Classic
The overall rating for this film should be 5 Star! A lot of the comments and ratings relate to the US remake of this classic of European cinema. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Richard Johnson
He's my favourite!
I spent sixteen years working as a psychiatric nurse, and this is the best on screen portrayal of antisocial personality disorder (i.e. a psychopath/sociopath) I've ever seen. Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2009 by Dubious Geebious
Great Service!
These guys rule.
Product was perfect and delivered quickly.
Thanks!
Will defo use again.
Product was perfect and delivered quickly.
Thanks!
Will defo use again.
Published on 8 Sep 2009 by David Moore
A shambolic desecration of an all-time classic.
Spoorloos, the Dutch/French original telling of this story, was incredibly successful and remains very popular to this day. Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2007 by Mail-order Christ
The Kiefer Sutherland version is the terrible one
Amazon appear to have screwed up all the reviews which appear before this one, because some of them appraise the original Dutch version of the film, whereas the version on sale is... Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2007 by Boxdonkey
Sorry guys, original is best!
For those wishing to share a debate that has obviously aroused strong feelings on both sides, there's a simple way to resolve this issue: watch both the original and the remake,... Read more
Published on 4 April 2007 by Andy Millward
How to destroy your career in one simple movie
NB - Once again Amazon have thoughtlessly and unhelpfully contrived to combine the reviews for two different fims on the same page. This review refers to the US remake. Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2005 by Trevor Willsmer
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