The Vanishing (1988)

In the midst of the vibrant Tour De France, Rex Hofman and his wife Saskia Wagter, two smitten Amsterdammers, find themselves embarking on a cycling vacation, only to have their journey take an unexpected, chilling turn. Their story begins at a bustling French highway rest stop, where Saskia mysteriously vanishes after stepping inside, leaving Rex in a state of alarmed perplexity. Despite a heated argument that had colored their day, Rex remains convinced that Saskia's disappearance is not a volitional act but a sinister abduction. His attempts at piecing together the puzzle at the rest stop yield scarce information, leaving him in a three-year-long limbo of uncertainty. However, Rex's desperate quest for answers gains new momentum as cryptic postcards from an anonymous sender start arriving, urging him to meet at a café in Nîmes. This relentless pursuit strains his relationship with his new girlfriend Lieneke, who struggles to play second fiddle to his haunting past. The enigma finally unravels when the elusive sender steps out of the shadows, introducing himself as Raymond Lemorne, a chemistry professor leading a seemingly ordinary life with his family. The disturbing truth emerges as Raymond confesses to his twisted attempts of luring women into a trap, a quest sparked by his daughter's adulation after he heroically saves a girl from drowning. Raymond then sets a chilling condition: he would reveal Saskia's fate only if Rex agrees to endure the same terrifying ordeal she did. Torn between his desperate need to uncover the truth and the sinister proposition, Rex faces the ultimate decision. With no concrete evidence linking Raymond to Saskia's disappearance, his choice could either lead him to the answers he seeks or deeper into a lethal labyrinth. Thus, The Vanishing is an unnerving tale of obsession, suspense, and the eerie lengths one man will go to uncover the truth, an experience that promises to leave viewers on the edge of their seats.

The Vanishing is a mystery movie featuring Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu and directed by George Sluizer.

The Vanishing is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy The Vanishing on Amazon Video and Apple TV.