Sign in
Trailer

The Vanishing

1988Movie1 h 46 minNR

MysteryThriller
87
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.6Rotten Tomatoes96%88%

A relentlessly bleak, gripping thriller movie about mystery and the mind.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Set your services

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, uplift or comfort.

Movies with

Story

Who Has Seen This Woman?

Rex and Saskia, a young couple in love, are on vacation when they stop at a busy service station. Saskia is abducted in broad daylight and three years pass with no answers or closure surrounding her disappearance. Rex has nearly given up all hope when he suddenly begins receiving letters from her abductor.

Feels like

  • Dutch Thriller
  • Missing Person
  • Psychological Horror
  • Slow Burn
  • Unsettling Atmosphere
  • Obsessive Search
  • Bleak Ending
  • Intrigue & Suspense
  • European Cinema

Cast

9 of 9

Crew

Directed by
George Sluizer
Written by
Tim Krabbé, George Sluizer
Produced by
George Sluizer, Anne Lordon
Music by
Henny Vrienten

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 27, 1988 · 1 h 46 min · NR

Released
October 27, 1988
Runtime
1 h 46 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Thriller, Mystery
Original language
Dutch
Also spoken
English, French
Made in
Netherlands, France, Germany
Available in
21 countries

Tropes

They Look Just Like Everyone Else!, Internal Reveal, Too Dumb to Live +9

  • They Look Just Like Everyone Else!
  • Internal Reveal
  • Too Dumb to Live
  • Serial Killer
  • Shown Their Work
  • Screw Destiny
  • Rule of Symbolism
  • Downer Ending
  • For the Evulz
  • Evil Is Petty
  • Reverse Whodunnit
  • Black Comedy

12 of 33 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Vanishing?"

Questions about The Vanishing

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Vanishing?

Criterion

In the United States, The Vanishing streams on Criterion. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store. It also streams in 17 other countries.

Is The Vanishing worth watching?

87
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 87 (IMDb 7.6 and Rotten Tomatoes 96%). Critics rate it higher (96 out of 100) than audiences (82).

Will I feel good after watching The Vanishing?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 10 of 10 for bleakness and 9 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Will The Vanishing scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

At times: scares are rated 7 of 10.

Is The Vanishing in English?

DutchEnglishFrench

No, it was made in Dutch, with some English and French.

What tropes does The Vanishing use?

They Look Just Like Everyone Else!Internal RevealToo Dumb to LiveSerial KillerShown Their WorkScrew DestinyRule of SymbolismDowner EndingFor the EvulzEvil Is PettyReverse WhodunnitBlack Comedyand 21 more

TV Tropes lists 33 tropes for it, including They Look Just Like Everyone Else!, Internal Reveal, and Too Dumb to Live.