The Vanishing (1988) - Movies Like Se7en | Filmiway

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Why This Matches the "Se7en" Aesthetic

The Vanishing shares Se7en’s uncompromising ending and obsession with the banality of evil. A terrifying study of curiosity and fate.

The Vanishing

1988•George Sluizer•120 min•R

The Experience

Rex Hofman and Saskia Wagter are on holiday in France when Saskia disappears at a petrol station. Rex spends years searching, obsessively putting up posters. The kidnapper, a mild-mannered chemistry teacher, eventually contacts Rex, offering to reveal what happened—but only if Rex experiences it himself. A study in the banality of evil that features one of the most terrifying endings in film history.

Cast & Crew

Director: George Sluizer

Starring: Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, Gene Bervoets

Production Details

Budget: Unknown

Box Office: Unknown

Age Rating:R
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SE7EN DNA SCORE

87
NOIR DARKNESS INDEX
7.7
IMDB RATING
PSYCHOLOGICAL GRIT LEVELHIGH

Sophisticated cinematic storytelling with advanced non-linear elements.

Clean Content Record

The Vanishing: No sexual content or graphic scenes present in this film.

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INTENSITY GRAPH

Narrative Analysis
Vanishing(50%)
Search(60%)
Obsession(70%)
Offer(85%)
Buried(100%)
Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Psychological: 60%Thriller: 30%Thriller: 30%Thriller: 30%Thriller: 30%Thriller: 30%Thriller: 30%Thriller: 30%Thriller: 30%Thriller: 30%Thriller: 30%Drama: 10%Drama: 10%Drama: 10%Drama: 10%

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CINEMATIC DNA

Genre Analysis
Psychological
60%
Thriller
30%
Drama
10%

Genre DNA Distribution

  • Psychological: 60%
  • Thriller: 30%
  • Drama: 10%

Movie Intensity Arc

  • Minute 5: Vanishing (50/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 30: Search (60/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 60: Obsession (70/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 85: Offer (85/100 Intensity)
  • Minute 105: Buried (100/100 Intensity)

Community Reviews

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FAQ About The Vanishing

Common questions about The Vanishing, its ending, and its place in noir cinema history.

Which version should I watch?

Watch the original 1988 Dutch version (Spoorloos), NOT the 1993 Hollywood remake, which ruins the ending completely.

Why is the ending famous?

It is considered one of the most horrifying and uncompromising endings in cinema history, refusing to give the audience the comfort of a happy resolution.

Is it a true story?

It is based on a novella, 'The Golden Egg', not a specific real event, but it feels terrifyingly real due to its psychological depth.

What is the 'Golden Egg'?

It is a metaphor for the protagonist's claustrophobic nightmare of being trapped forever in a small space, floating through the universe alone.

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Curated by Filmiway Editorial Team

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