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The Vanishing

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The Vanishing

Released Oct 10, 1990

1h 46m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

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

The 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

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Christy Lemire

ChristyLemire.com

It's an elegant, riveting piece of filmmaking.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 20, 2018

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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

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

Saskia has about eight minutes of screen time total but creates an indelible impression during that limited exposure.

Rated: 8/10

Mar 8, 2025

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

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

Aug 4, 2023

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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

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Oscar J

Throughout the movie, but especially while watching the last 20 minutes or so, I anticipated the ending but hoped I was mistaken. I was not. Then again, what did I expect: when a sadist meets a masochist, do they drink champagne and toast to good times?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/12/25

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Abc D

Das ist einer der Filme die man sich in Ruhe anschauen sollte aber dann vergisst man ihn nie. Ich habe noch lange über die einzelnen Szenen nachgedacht, der Film ist einfach furchtbar - im positiven Sinne.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

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Ian H

Chilling. A slow burner but most of the horror is barely revealed. Grim and disturbing

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

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Laurian D

Pretty well made film, but the ending is frustratingly terrible, especially because the reactions and choices of the main character aren't plausible. I kept reading here about how plausible it all is. Honestly, I don't feel the same at all.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/06/25

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Phyllis Y

The movie was great...until the ending. I'm still waiting to be scared much less terrified. I might have given it a higher rating if so many viewers hadn't led me to believe the ending would be great...it just wasn't.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/17/25

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Rachel M

Watched this movie because it's often brought up by directors and writers in the horror genre as one of their faves. Definitely well-made. Intense. Thoughtful. I've continued to think about it (which I think can be a mark of a good movie). The ending is abrupt, and I was surprised (because people don't usually take this route when ending a story of this nature), but it was very interesting. It's one of those movies that made me put myself in the place of various characters and consider what I would do in the same situation. I've also pondered the character motivations and the significance of those and how it applies to real life (evil exists: how do my own motivations, traits, defects play a role in resisting or connecting to evil?).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/25

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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