THE VANISHING
US, 1993, 110 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Kiefer Sutherland, Nancy Travis, Sandra Bullock.
Directed by George Sluizer.
The Vanishing is an American remake, adapted by actor-writer Todd Graff (Used People), of George Sluizer's original Dutch film. The Dutch version was produced in 1988, small budget, modest in scope and very intense in its impact.
The American version is somewhat opened out, has very attractive settings in Washington State, is a star vehicle for its leads. However, the film was considerably criticised on its release and probably underestimated because of the continued comparison with the original.
Jeff Bridges gives a very idiosyncratic performance (and accent) as the insane killer. Kiefer Sutherland and Sandra Bullock are the couple, with Nancy Travis giving a strong performance as Rita, the woman who helps Sutherland on his search for his vanished girlfriend.
The film is particularly grim in its focus on the cruel and obsessive killer, on the obsessive man searching for his vanished girlfriend, on the cruelty of the death of the girlfriend and the man having to undergo the same experience, especially being buried alive. The film is an interesting exercise in looking at two versions of the same story directed by the same director.
1. Impact of the film as a thriller? The comparisons with the Dutch original?
2. The opening out of the film, the American style, characters, tension, motivations?
3. The horror aspects of the film? The victims, the criminally insane, obsessions? Being buried alive?
4. The Washington State locations and scenery? The atmospheric score, unobtrusive, but effective?
5. The title and expectations? With reference to Diane, with reference to Jeff and his disappearing from Rita, Rita and the alleged taking of Barney's daughter?
6. The structure of the film: introduction to Barney and his madness, introduction to Jeff and Diane? The audience sharing in the mystery of Diane's disappearance, the years passing, Jeff's search, the gradual revelation in Barney's story?
7. Jeff Bridges as Barney: his appearance, hair, weight, accent, manner? Manic? Yet his surviving in ordinary life, teaching, with his family, with his daughter and his love for her? The plan and his rehearsals with the chloroform? His attempts to lure women and his ineptness, his taking notes?
8. Jeff and Diane, on holidays, Diane wanting to go home, Mount St Helens, running out of petrol in the tunnel, the sense of menace? Their making up, Diane asking the pledge of Jeff? Their love, her going to the shop, the suddenness and mysteriousness of her disappearance? Jeff and his waiting, growing anxiety, desperation and search?
9. Jeff and his going to the police, their inability to help? The growing obsession to know what happened? Talking to Rita, his friendship with her, her moving in? The time passing, the writing of the book? His concern, going for guard service? Going into the mountains, the search? Rita opening up the computer and finding his obsession with Diane, her confronting him, taking him to retrace his steps, Jeff remembering and imagining? The possibility of letting Diane go? Reconciliation with Rita?
10. Barney and his sending the message, watching Rita and Jeff? His presence in the house, confrontation with Jeff, allowing Jeff to kick and bash him? Yet taunting him, leading him on, telling him that he would never know unless he trusted him? The travel in the car, telling the story - the child, allowing himself to fall from the roof, rescuing the child who was drowning, motivation, drivenness, wanting to be a hero in his daughter's eyes? His mad philosophy of goodness and evil? The birthday celebration and the photo? Wanting Jeff to experience the same thing and its effect?
11. Rita and her anger, her message on the answering machine, the narrow escape from attack by Barney, his being in the house watching? Her talking to the lady who saw the fight and the car? Her shrewdness, getting the numberplate information, going to the house, the encounter with the daughter, adapting to the story of going off with Barney, getting information about the hut? Tracking him down, the clash with Barney and his recognising her, the fight? Working out what had happened to Jeff, the shovel and the mud on the shoes, the grave? Taunting Barney about taking his daughter, getting him to drink the coffee? Her digging up the grave and Barney attacking her?
12. Jeff coming to his senses and finding himself trapped in the grave, desperation, the cigarette lighter (the gift from Diane)? His being rescued, his attacking Barney and killing him?
13. The resolution, not writing the book, the light touch with the remarks about coffee? The light ending for people to leave the film rather than the obsession and the horror?
14. The exploration of a psychopathic imagination? The obsessiveness of the ordinary person who experiences trauma? The horror touches?
