Featured Audience Ratings

• Emil K

  
  Here is a remake that is much better than the original 80's film. The surprise is that director George Sluizer is the same one than in the original Dutch film. I myself consider this another take on a Tim Krabbe's novel rather than a straight remake of a film. Where… More
  Here is a remake that is much better than the original 80's film. The surprise is that director George Sluizer is the same one than in the original Dutch film. I myself consider this another take on a Tim Krabbe's novel rather than a straight remake of a film. Where Sluizer's original failed to to be that thrilling or anythin else than a grim film with a interesting potential, his American version is extremey suspenseful cat and mouse game filled with twists and atmosphere. When people talk about remakes i actually find it kinda misleading. If the material comes from the book, play, comic book, poem or maybe even a song, then we should be talking an adaptation and that is the case with The Vanishing also. It is an film adaptation rather than remake. Writer Todd Graff has added elements into Tim Krabbe's story and actually turned it into much more suspenseful story than it originally was in the book. Much has been said also about film's radical change when it comes to an ending but i prefer much more the one that Graff serves. There is fantastic leading trio with Nancy Travis, Kiefer Sutherland and Jeff Bridges who all give enough depth to their characters. Sutherland is convincing as a man driven by obsession to find out what happened to his missing girlfriend. Nacy Travis gets strong and meaty role as a Sutherland's resourceful new girlfriend. Still the films most interesting and captivating role comes from Jeff Bridges whose Barney is one of the creepiest film villains ever created. He is a cold blooded mixture of an ordinary family man and a scary sociopath. It is one of the best roles that Bridges has given us and he seems to be enjoying every second of it. Film's tension and atmosphere is amped up by Jerry Goldsmith's efffective score that brings certain mystical atmosphere to film's proceedings. Overall George Sluizer deserved much more credit from this film than he actually got. This is well made film that will hold you captivated through all of it's lenght. Maybe someday this overlooked little gem will find its audience that it deserves, who knows.

• Melvin W

  
  Barney Cousins: To me, to kill is not the worst thing you can imagine. There is more.  "Obsession is the Ultimate Weapon" The Vanishing is miles from the amazing original and ends up only making me want to revisit Spoorloos. To be fair though, I didn't necessarily… More
  Barney Cousins: To me, to kill is not the worst thing you can imagine. There is more.  "Obsession is the Ultimate Weapon" The Vanishing is miles from the amazing original and ends up only making me want to revisit Spoorloos. To be fair though, I didn't necessarily hate this movie until the ending. Sure it had it's problems throughout, but I pretty much expected that. The ending is sure to outrage anyone who has seen and loved the original. It's sad that, in remaking the film, they would decide to end it in the way they did. Obviously it was to appeal to a mass audience who loves a happy ending.  The cast has some pretty big names. Jeff Bridges, Keifer Sutherland and Sandra Bullock. None of them give very memorable performances and that disappoints me because I do normally enjoy watching all of them. None of them were quite as bad as Nancy Travis though. She was thoroughly unbelievable, just like the movie. Everything just seems off when compared to the original. I can see people who haven't seen Spoorloos liking this based on the fact that they have nothing to compare it to.  The Vanishing is a great example of a Hollywood team totally destroying everything that was great about the movie it is remaking. Sometimes American remakes can come through; for example Let Me In. The big difference that makes Let Me In a good remake compared to The Vanishing is that it is respectful to the original. The Vanishing changes to many key elements of the film to allow the main ideas to get across. Hopefully this at least has made a few people curious enough about the original, to find and watch it. 

• Arash X

  
  Skip this & watch the original one again, Although I was expecting the ridiculous happy-ending but it was still more ridiculous than I thought, It's a pity because I like Sutherland & Bridges

• familiar s

  
  A thoroughly exciting psychological thriller. I haven't seen the original version of this movie made some 4-6 years before this movie by the same director with the same name, so I enjoyed it all the more. However, if you get the original one, prefer watching it as the climax has… More
  A thoroughly exciting psychological thriller. I haven't seen the original version of this movie made some 4-6 years before this movie by the same director with the same name, so I enjoyed it all the more. However, if you get the original one, prefer watching it as the climax has been changed and as per the reviews in general, the first one was better than this one. However, this is also worth a watch if you don't get the original. It wouldn't be advisable to miss this one if you really love movies of thriller genre.

• Lafe F

  
  Suspenseful thriller with Kiefer Sutherland looking for his vanished wife Sandra Bullock. Jeff Bridges plays the extremely creepy kidnapper. There's a nice plot of Kiefer not finding out what happened to his wife until late in the film, where he must experience "The… More
  Suspenseful thriller with Kiefer Sutherland looking for his vanished wife Sandra Bullock. Jeff Bridges plays the extremely creepy kidnapper. There's a nice plot of Kiefer not finding out what happened to his wife until late in the film, where he must experience "The Vanishing" himself.

• xGary X

  
  Hugely inferior remake of a classic Dutch film that's a perfect example of why Hollywood remakes are always so awful. An inadequate cast, simplistic rewrite of the kidnapper's character and laughable happy ending that completely misses the point of the original.

• Stuart B

  
  Disturbing thriller about a guy whos girlfriend is kidnapped. After trying relentlessly to find her, eventually her kidnapper arrives to torment him.

• Steve B

  
  Good performances, but misses the point completely by changing the ending -- and what's the point, really, when the original is so brilliant?

• Dean M

  
  This US version remake is getting much better than Dutch film because it shows what is happening more at the final scene.

• Jeffrey M

  
  A promising 2/3 almost ruined by a ridiculous and forced ending. I enjoyed all the actors involved, especially the creepy Bridges. His accent in the film, however, leaves something to be desired, reminding me almost of Barney Frank. Still, it succeeds in creating a creepy atmosphere,… More
  A promising 2/3 almost ruined by a ridiculous and forced ending. I enjoyed all the actors involved, especially the creepy Bridges. His accent in the film, however, leaves something to be desired, reminding me almost of Barney Frank. Still, it succeeds in creating a creepy atmosphere, with some tense sequences.

• Jason R

  
  One of my favorite Jeff Bridges performances. Bridges is highly underrated, in his portrayal of Barney Cousins. His performance alone makes the film worth watching.

• John M

  
  "The Vanishing" isn't a terrible film by any means but it is less effective than the original but there are sufficient differences, however, to make viewing both films worthwhile. Jeff Bridges did an excellent job playing a psycho.

• Lee K

  
  Keifer plays the good guy again in this pretty intense thriller. Jeff Bridges was surprisingly good as the villain.

• Miriam K

  
  This one has been out a bit, copied in plot a few times etc, But it still holds up in my opinion when you watch it in present time. I like Jeff Bridges and he does quite well as the sociopath!

• Steve S

  
  The Scandinavian version was far better.

• Marion R

  
  Meh, interesting in some parts, but it was just okay.Want to see the Original one now.

• Leo L

  
  Very touching, and you watch the film feeling Kiefer's character's every emotions. Including his pain, and one can't help but feel for Nancy Travis's character.

Read all 17 featured audience ratings