Those who know me pretty much know I love psychological thriller movies. Even people who have no interest in movies get to put up with me rambling about the plot twist in Se7en, or how crappy The Ring was.
About four months ago (wow, time flies), I was browsing epinions.com on a whim. This was fate. I never go to that site. I pulled up a list of ten scariest movies ever.. one guy put The Vanishing at #1. He said the ending was truly scary, and the movie was a great thriller. So I read about it. None of the reviews spoiled the ending. Usually at least one does, but even people that normally did said "it was an unwritten rule not to spoil the ending of The Vanishing."
So, in tradition of this rule, I will not spoil the ending. It's a huge deal, because the entire movie is about what happened. Let me explain. The movie is about a young couple who travel across country from a bike ride in paris. They get into a big fight, but soon make up. They stop at a gas station, the woman goes in, and is never seen again. Rex, the boyfriend, never finds out what happens to her, and that drives him insane.
Three years later, he has a new woman, who eventually leaves him due to his obsession with his past. He must know what happened to his beloved Saskia. He goes on TV begging. And this is just what the doctor ordered. For the kidnapper is not a man without heart. He's a family man, and when you find out what he did, and why he did it, you will probably not be able to sleep that night. Rex meets up with the kidnapper, who feels bad and wants to provide Rex with the ultimate answer, but will it be at the cost of Rex's life?
The Vanishing is a truly disturbing movie. No movie has freaked me out as this one did. Don't expect blood or gore, but if you like your mind fucked with, this is the movie for you. The kidnapper is not a zombie, a drowned kid, a burned child molestor, or a psycho with a chainsaw. He is a father of two kids. He is a school teacher. But, his mind is fucked up, and he does increasingly messed up things.
The most interesting part of this movie is the non-linearity of it. You find out things in an interesting order. The opening of the movie shows the kidnapper. You always know who he is, but the mystery is why he did it, and more importantly, what he did. You find out things in a order that keeps things interesting and fresh. It may be a "gimmick" now, but The Vanishing does the out-of-order story telling perfectly.
This is truly a scary and awesome movie with a wicked ending that serves the movie justice. Those expecting a typical American happy ending will be better off watching the crappy American remake with its happy ending, lack of sense, and boring storytelling style. Those who want a realistic movie with a smart ending and good messages to pass along will do well to rent out this classic. It's subtitled, but if you don't have to HEAR the words, then you will not be disappointed. My favorite movie ever, easily.
Messages this movie send: Sometimes you have to make an ultimate sacrifice for your ultimate desire ,and sometimes things happen for no reason and no purpose.
Just remember, if a mean looking dude with a mustache asks you to drink coffee that's spiked with sleeping pills after he killed your girlfriend, it's prolly best not to do it.