Review of The Vanishing (1993) by Will G — 09 Dec 2007

George Sluizer's underrated remake of his overrated original doesn't really feel like an American film. Until the end. That's when it blunders past what should be the shocking denouement and goes on for another 20 minutes, like something out of 'The Player'.

But if you can ignore that compromise then there's a huge amount to admire in this low-key cracker. It's thoughtfully directed - cracking close-up of Kiefer Sutherland as he talks to the cop; shocking yikes! bit when Jeff Bridges hides behind the door - and uses striking locations and a weird, creepy score to drum up an off-kilter atmosphere, helped along by Bridges's superbly odd performance.

The finale aside, I can't understand why it's so lambasted.