The Vanishing (1988)

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The Vanishing (1988) – G. Sluizer

Rex (Gene Bervoets) and Saskia (Johanna ter Steege) are travelling in France on their way for a cycling/camping holiday.  They run out of petrol, quarrel, but make up.  However, at a highway rest-stop, Saskia suddenly vanishes.  Rex frantically turns the place upside down but eventually has to give up.  The movie switches to following another character, Raymond, who we suspect has abducted Saskia.  He certainly is creepy and seems to be methodically preparing for evil acts.  Indeed, soon we realise that we are seeing him before Saskia’s disappearance.  Fast forward three years and Rex is still obsessively seeking Saskia, which effectively ends his latest relationship.  He is also receiving mysterious postcards inviting him to various locations to learn about Saskia – but no one ever shows, despite Rex feeling watched.  Until one fateful day….    Naturally, I was waiting for a twist (probably thinking of Gone Girl) but instead this is a chilling study of pure evil – the remake starred Jeff Bridges in the Raymond role which is rather hard to imagine post-Dude.  At least in its original Dutch version (Spoorloos), The Vanishing is the kind of horror film that you’ll never be able to shake…