The Vanishing

Released Oct 10, 1990

1h 46m

Mystery & Thriller

List

96%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

88%

Audience Score

10,000+ Ratings

Rex (Gene Bervoets) and Saskia (Johanna Ter Steege) are enjoying a biking holiday in France when, stopping at a gas station, Saskia disappears. Confounded, Rex searches everywhere, but to no avail. Three years later, he's still obsessed with finding her, pleading his case on television, putting up posters and ruining his new relationship in the process. Eventually an unassuming chemistry teacher, Raymond (Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu), approaches Rex, intimating that he knows what happened.

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Critics Consensus

A clinical, maddening descent into the mind of a serial killer and a slowly unraveling hero, culminating with one of the scariest endings of all time.

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Richard Brody

New Yorker

Sluizer isn't among the more original stylists, but the literalness of his direction suffices to evoke the horrific and monstrous possibilities lurking behind the façades of ordinary life.

Oct 30, 2020

Full Review

Christy Lemire

ChristyLemire.com

It's an elegant, riveting piece of filmmaking.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 20, 2018

Full Review

Michael Wilmington

Los Angeles Times

The appalling, horrific climax of The Vanishing will haunt your mind long after this film is over.

Oct 19, 2016

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

A film that is literally blood chilling. [Full review in Spanish]

Aug 4, 2023

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

The ending itself fulfills its pledge as one of the most terrifying films ever made – and it’s done without any blood spilled.

Feb 22, 2023

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Kubrick considered Sluizer's The Vanishing a truly terrifying film, and its power is in its unsettling simplicity as it explores the potency of its nightmare scenarios.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 3, 2020

Full Review

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Daniel N

Impossible not to feel stressed and anxious while watching it, it matches all the points in a solid way, enjoyable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/12/24

Full Review

Justin T

I was disappointed with the lack of suspense in favour of drama. The movie rambled along giving us more and more insights into the mind of a serial killer without ever drawing me in or getting me excited. The three main characters were pretty dull but well acted. The ending was interesting and yet predictable. This is just too slow to entertain deeply. It's not that it's bad, it's more that the story is quite slow which is underpinned by interesting psychological aspects.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/24

Full Review

Alec B

Like "Psycho" it is compelling because of the excruciating detail we are witness to. Each sequence takes us slowly along to that horrifying ending.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Leaburn O

Slow burn thriller with a twist (sort of) that isn't quite worth the wait. The acting and initial intrigue was reasonable just could have all been better and more taut.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/30/23

Full Review

Courtney K

alright; obviously everyone's definition of the word "scary" is a little different... this film is scary in the sense of how realistic the situation actually is & not "i wont be able to sleep tonight" scary. which, i was expecting the latter & was a little disappointed. i did enjoy it & i think they did a great job story-telling, but i had hyped up that ending WAY more than i should've. all the reviews that said "watch all the way through" "wait for the ending" "one of the most horrifying endings ever". i mean... i get it. as a concept, yes, the ending is horrific: how far would you go to find out the truth? & how far can you go & not get caught? BUT literally nothing happens, so if you're waiting to witness the most horrific movie scene shot in history, you're not gonna see it. again, i'm not sure if 'disappointed' is the correct word to use - not sure what that says about me - but my expectations just were not met. but it WAS good, i DID like it; i think overall i WOULD recommend it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/29/23

Full Review

Elias R

An unsettling look into the mind of a serial killer with a payoff that is satisfying, if somewhat lacking.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/11/22

Full Review

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George Sluizer

Director

Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu

Raymond Lemorne

Gene Bervoets

Rex Hofman

Johanna ter Steege

Saskia Wagter

Gwen Eckhaus

Lieneke

Anne Gordon

Producer

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Synopsis

Rex (Gene Bervoets) and Saskia (Johanna Ter Steege) are enjoying a biking holiday in France when, stopping at a gas station, Saskia disappears. Confounded, Rex searches everywhere, but to no avail. Three years later, he's still obsessed with finding her, pleading his case on television, putting up posters and ruining his new relationship in the process. Eventually an unassuming chemistry teacher, Raymond (Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu), approaches Rex, intimating that he knows what happened.

Director: George Sluizer
Producer: Anne Gordon, George Sluizer
Screenwriter: Tim Krabbé, George Sluizer
Production Co: Argos Films
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Dutch
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 1990, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 25, 2017
Runtime: 1h 46m

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