The Vanishing (1988)
"Spoorloos" (original title)

Rex and Saskia, a young couple in love, are on vacation. They stop at a busy service station and Saskia is abducted. After three years and no sign of Saskia, Rex begins receiving letters from the abductor.

Director:

George Sluizer

Writers:

Tim Krabbé (novel), Tim Krabbé (screenplay),

Stars:

Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, Gene Bervoets, Johanna ter Steege

7 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu	...	Raymond Lemorne
Gene Bervoets	...	Rex Hofman
Johanna ter Steege	...	Saskia Wagter
Gwen Eckhaus	...	Lieneke
Bernadette Le Saché	...	Simone Lemorne
Tania Latarjet	...	Denise
Lucille Glenn	...	Gabrielle
Roger Souza	...	Manager
Caroline Appéré	...	Cashier
Pierre Forget	...	Farmer Laurent
Didier Rousset	...	TV Journalist
Raphaëline Goupilleau	...	Gisele Marzin (as Raphaëline)
Robert Lucibello	...	Teacher
David Bayle	...	Lemorne (16 Years)
Doumee	...	Lady 'Prisunic' (as Doumée)

Storyline

Rex and Saskia are on holiday, a young couple in love. They stop at a busy service station and Saskia disappears. Rex dedicates the next three years trying to find her. Then he receives some postcards from her abductor, who promises to reveal what has happened to Saskia. The abductor, Raymond Lemorne, is a chilling character to whom Rex is drawn by his intense desire to learn the truth behind his lovers disappearance. The truth is more sinister than he dared imagine.

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Plot Keywords:

abductor | love | france | cottage | kidnapping | 

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Netherlands France

Language:

Dutch French English

Release Date:

27 October 1988 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

The Vanishing

Filming Locations:

Buitenveldert, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company Credits

Production Co:

Argos Films, Golden Egg, Ingrid Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The central plot of the film (and the novel on which it is based) is from an archetype Urban Legend related to the Paris Exposition of 1901. A woman and her daughter travel to Paris for the exhibition, and whilst the woman unpacks, the daughter goes to a nearby shop. When she returns to the hotel, the mother is gone, and no one in the hotel remembers having seen her. The idea also formed for the basis for Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes, Terrence Fisher's So Long at the Fair, Robert Fuest's And Soon the Darkness and Philip Leacock's Dying Room Only.

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Goofs

When in the car with his daughter, Raymonde leans over and locks the passenger door, but seconds later the button is no longer pushed down.

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Quotes

Raymond Lemorne: My daughter was bursting with pride. But I thought that her admiration wasn't worth anything unless I could prove myself absolutely incapable of doing anything evil. And as black cannot exist without white, I logically conceived the most horrible deed that I could envision right at that moment. But I want you to know, for me killing is not the worst thing.

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Connections

Referenced in Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

User Reviews

Horrifying

This movie gave me nightmares for...well, I'm still having them. Rex and Saskia are a young couple on vacation. They stop at a gas station, Saskia goes inside and never returns. Rex becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to her and, when at last faced with the man who abducted Saskia, finally has the chance to find out. But there's one condition: Rex must surrender himself to Saskia's abductor and agree to experience the same thing she herself went through. The only trouble is, he has no idea what that might be, or even whether Saskia is alive or dead. Rex believes that the Not Knowing is the worst thing, but it isn't. The Knowing is the most horrible thing of all.

This is a powerful film that practically punches you in the stomach with its gritty realism. The performances are flawless and haunting, and the climax and aftermath, delivered with a quiet matter-of-factness, are the very definition of horror. This is real horror, the kind we try not to think about but which can happen, and has. If this film doesn't disturb you, I can't think of anything that will. Highly recommended, but only for people who are emotionally equipped to deal with the fear and the terror that the camera never flinches from. People with claustrophobia would be wise to stay far away from this film.