The Vanishing (1993)

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

Director:

George Sluizer

Writers:

Tim Krabbé (novel), Todd Graff (screenplay)

Stars:

Jeff Bridges, Kiefer Sutherland, Nancy Travis

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
George Catalano	...	Highway Cop
Frank Girardeau	...	Cop at Apartment
Stephen Bridgewater	...	TV Host (as Stephen Wesley Bridgewater)
Susan Barnes	...	Colleague
Rich Hawkins	...	Stan

Storyline

Barney teaches chemisty, and is planning to abduct a woman. Despite methodical planning and countless trial runs he always manages to mess things up. Then Diane, who is traveling with her boyfriend Jeff, unwittingly makes herself an easy target. The story is mainly from Jeff's viewpoint, as he searches for Diane. Barney watches him.

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Plot Keywords:

kidnapping | obsession | missing person | buried alive | remake by original director | 

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Taglines:

Obsession is the Ultimate Weapon

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for terror and violence, and for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 February 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

El rapto

Filming Locations:

Mountainside Shell Station, 742 SW Mt Si Boulevard, North Bend, Washington, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,009,928, 7 February 1993

Gross USA:

$14,543,394

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,543,394

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stanley Kubrick thought The Vanishing (1988) was the most terrifying film he had seen, even more frightening than The Shining (1980). Kubrick called George Sluizer to discuss some of the editing.

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Goofs

Barney is in his car, parked downhill on the north side of Pine St., between Pike Place and 1st Ave. at the Pike Place Public Market. He sees an attractive woman walking up the hill toward him, exits the car, and asks her where the post office is. She says it's "off of "Hanley St.," and tells him to go up the hill to 1st. Ave., two more blocks east to 3rd Ave., turn right to the south, go two blocks south and at the intersection, on the south east corner is the post office. No Seattle post office is off Hanley Street.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Rita Baker: No coffee.
Jeff Harriman: [referring to an earlier incident] Thanks, we don't drink that anymore.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Night of Horror (2011)

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Soundtracks

WIPE OUT
Written by Ronald Wilson (as Ron Wilson), Robert Berryhill, James Fuller and Patrick Connolly (as Patrick Connelly)

User Reviews

Inferior US version of Dutch film

Others have said it already, but since there still seem to be some people who think this remake is worth watching, I feel the need to reiterate: skip this movie and watch the original. Both films were made by the same director. The major difference between the two is an ending on the Dutch film that will chill you to the bone, versus the predictable Hollywood version of the story.