Vanishing: Recut, The

Updated
Vanishing: Recut, The
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1993
Original Running Time:
109
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
80
Time Cut:
29
Available in HD?
Brief Synopsis:
I'm a big fan of Tim Krabbe's horror novel The Golden Egg and George Sluizer's 1988 movie adaptation Spoorloos. That shocking ending gave me nightmares for weeks. The 1993 American remake didn't work. The story is too blunt and tragic for the Hollywood standards, and to change that is to kill the most terrifying aspect of the film. I do think the US version has a lot going for it tho. Jeff Bridges is completely terrifying and Kiefer is a more likeable lead (which would make the character's fate even more painful to watch).

That's why I decided to recut the film, removing the dumb changes and preserving the essence of the story and its terrifying conclusion. I'm pretty sure it's been done before, but I decided to do my own version and share it with whoever might be interested.
Intention:
To remove the changes created to appease the regular US audience and restore the story's essence and its terrifying ending.
Release Information:
Digital
Cuts and Additions:
- Decided to follow the original film's structure, so my cut starts with the disappearance and then we're introduced to Barney.
- A lot of 'relationship' scenes between Jeff and Rita were cut since Rita is not a crucial character here.
- Rita disappears from the story after she leaves Jeff for good.
- Cut out the scene of Barney following Rita to the apartment and approaching from behind while she changed the message on the answering machine. To me it seems careless that the character would try to kidnap her right there. Seems to me that was only included to add more tension to the film.
- And of course, the whole Hollywood ending was removed and I tried to recreate the original ending the best way I could.
Trailer

User reviews

1 review
Overall rating
 
8.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0(1)
Audio Editing
 
9.0(1)
Visual Editing
 
9.0(1)
Narrative
 
8.0(1)
Enjoyment
 
8.0(1)
(Updated: February 19, 2018)
Overall rating
 
8.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
8.0
Enjoyment
 
8.0
First of all I have to admit to not having seen the original Dutch version so I won't be comparing this to that although I'm fully aware of the tacked on happy ending created for the U.S Version. I've always liked this movie in spite of the hollywoood interefence with the ending, the first drastic change is to show the 'Vanishing' first and then Barney planning it as per the original film. I'm not sure quite how this plays out in the original as it seemed a little odd seeing the abduction and then Barney questioning if he would fully go through with it knowing already that he had (I found myself questioning when this was taking place). It also meant that we cut from Barney planning the abduction a slow fade, then Barney driving past a sign showing the vanishing occurred three years earlier. Its a small nitpick but I didn't quite get the sense of three years passing in the same way as it works in the original cut. Theres a very noticeable cut to Keither Sutherland talking to his book publisher but other than that the editing was well done hence my dropping a point on the editing marks. I would really like to congratulate Agent Sam on his handling of the finale though, that is really well done, the movie ends a little abruptly but it works because its so god damn dark (literally!) and leaves you with chills. The song Agent Sam chose really works too for me. I really enjoyed this edit and while it sounds like I've cricitized it a bit I'm just highlighting a few editing choices that didn't quite work for me, I'm sure others will feel differently... Recommended!!
Owner's reply February 24, 2018

Thanks a lot for taking the time to write a review :)

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