The Vanishing (1993)

47% of critics liked it
(34 reviews)
50% of users liked it
(14,708 ratings)

George Sluizer's 1992 English-language remake of his 1988 Dutch thriller The Vanishing follows the same plot-line as the original film, yet with one important difference. The film details a young man's (Kiefer Sutherland) search for his girlfriend (Sandra Bullock), who disappeared at a gas station… More George Sluizer's 1992 English-language remake of his 1988 Dutch thriller The Vanishing follows the same plot-line as the original film, yet with one important difference. The film details a young man's (Kiefer Sutherland) search for his girlfriend (Sandra Bullock), who disappeared at a gas station after the couple had a fight. Where the original film didn't reveal what happened to the girlfriend until late into the movie, the 1992 version opens with her kidnapper (Jeff Bridges) plotting his abduction. Over the course of the film, Sutherland's search for Bullock is intercut with footage of Bridges that illustrates his mental illness and his repeated attempts to abduct women. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: George Sluizer
Written By: Todd Graff
Genres: Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1993 Wide
On DVD: Sep 7, 2004
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Schematic and unconvincing.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The first movie was existential in its merciless unfolding. This one turns into a slasher movie with a cheap joke at the end.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Too much of what is good about the original The Vanishing has been eviscerated. If you want quality, see the Dutch version; this one is a pale imitation.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
[Screenwriter Todd Graff] duplicates many of the original scenes (particularly the significant gas station ones), but does so mechanically. He jettisons most of the subtleties that made the first film so memorable.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
A case study in how Hollywood can make a complete mess out of what was previously a marvelous film.
, Film4
Sluizer's Hollywood remake of his own brilliant Spooloos is a lobotomised version of its chillier, more cerebral precursor.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a thoroughly involving thriller that boasts a number of genuinely tense sequences...
Nigel Floyd, Time Out
Misjudged, compromised Hollywood remake.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
Sutherland is the key to the proceedings and his intense, narrow-minded, obsessive search for his ex-girlfriend is what kept me going most of the way.
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
Often stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its forerunner--or is at the very least too provocative in its departures to dismiss out of hand
Victoria Alexander, FilmsInReview.com
The original was horrifying.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

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.