The defence The Arthouse Gremlin
“Its refusal to behave is the point.”
The strange choices create the kind of friction that follows you out of the theatre and into the argument.
Back to trending 
The Vanishing
Thriller · Drama · Mystery · 1993
The boyfriend of an abducted woman never gives up the search as the abductor looks on.
Movie details
The Vanishing
“Obsession is the ultimate weapon.”
1993 Thriller · Drama · Mystery 1h 49m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.2 / 10
Community rating
The boyfriend of an abducted woman never gives up the search as the abductor looks on.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over The Vanishing?
For the defence
The Arthouse Gremlin
“The stranger, the better.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Caged
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The Betrayed
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Shimmer Lake
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Suburbicon
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The Initiated
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A Crooked Somebody
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An attention-seeking psychic is kidnapped and tries to use the situation to boost his popularity.
Savaged
Action · 2014
After thugs brutalize a deaf-mute woman, the spirit of an Apache warrior takes over her lifeless body and sets out on a bloodthirsty quest for revenge.
The Devil You Know
Thriller · 2022
Once-incarcerated Marcus Cowans is trying to turn over a new leaf with the support of his loving family. Upon discovering that one of his brothers may have been involved in a horrific crime, Marcus grapples with the limits of brotherhood and loyalty. He and his family, increasingly weary of the justice system’s failings, end up in the crosshairs of a seasoned but jaded detective.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
George Sluizer
Written by
Todd Graff
Kiefer Sutherland
Jeff Harriman
Jeff Bridges
Barney Cousins
Nancy Travis
Rita Baker
Sandra Bullock
Diane Shaver
Park Overall
Lynn
Lisa Eichhorn
Helene Cousins
George Hearn
Arthur Bernard
Court is in session
Put The Vanishing on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“Oddness is not depth.”
A film can break every rule and still leave nothing behind but the memory of how hard it tried to be singular.