Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Video: Twilight Time

 

Disc:

Region: FREE (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player) Limited to 3,000 Copies!

Runtime: 1:49:39.573

Disc Size: 33,354,584,496 bytes

Feature Size: 33,159,806,976 bytes

Video Bitrate: 30.00 Mbps

Chapters: 12

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: October, 2014

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Audio:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3012 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3012 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps
/ 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1823 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1823 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps
/ 24-bit)
Isolated Score:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 2981 kbps 5.0 / 48 kHz / 2981 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps
/ 24-bit)

 

Subtitles:

• English (SDH), None

 

Extras:

• Theatrical Trailer (2:24)

• Isolated Score

• Liner notes by Julie Kirgo

 

Bitrate:

 

 

Description: Director George Sluizer’s The Vanishing (1993)—the American remake of his own widely hailed Dutch film, Spoorloos (1988)—is an intensely creepy thriller about the mysterious disappearance of a young woman (Sandra Bullock) from an all-too-ordinary roadside service area. Over the next few years, her increasingly desperate boyfriend (Kiefer Sutherland) searches for her obsessively, unaware that her sociopath abductor (Jeff Bridges, giving a weird, brilliantly insinuating performance) is watching him—and waiting to make contact. Featuring a subtle yet terrifying score by the incomparable Jerry Goldsmith, available on this Twilight Time release as an isolated track.

 

 

The Film:

THE VANISHING is based on a superb 1988 Dutch thriller released in the US in 1990. While the original was a rather cerebral exercise in suspense, the American version has predictably been given a more visceral dimension. The new version is more simplistic, but still works on its own level.

Unlike the first VANISHING, in which the explanation for a woman's disappearance is kept hidden for some time, this adaptation opens with the villain, Barney Cousins (Jeff Bridges), preparing for a kidnapping. He rehearses every element of his crime, right down to the timing of his attack, before setting out. The focus then shifts to Jeff Harriman (Kiefer Sutherland), who is driving through the Pacific Northwest with his girlfriend, Diane Shaver (Sandra Bullock). They pull over into a crowded rest stop, where Diane goes into the store to buy drinks--and never returns. Driven to obsession by Diane's disappearance, Jeff embarks on a one-man campaign to find her, putting up posters, following every possible lead and even appearing on TV talk shows, appealing to whoever might be responsible to provide him with an explanation of what happened. In the course of his efforts, he meets a waitress named Rita (Nancy Travis), with whom he strikes up a relationship.

Excerpt from TV Guide located HERE

THE VANISHING is a horrific tale of two men and their internal struggles: one emotionally devestated by his girlfriend's sudden and inexplicable disappearance and the other a seemingly normal, intelligent human who can't stop himself from wondering if he's capable of committing cold-blooded murder. The latter's success sends Sutherland's character into a tailspin of depression that spurs his obsessive search to discover the truth.

Everyone else thinks that he's making his story up, that Diane merely left him and he couldn't handle it. There's something to be said for that version until you meet Bridges. In an equally silly and creepy role, he leaves no doubt about the fate of Ms. Bullock, who plays the overly trusting girlfriend who gets herself in a whole heap of trouble -- which she kind of deserves since she got into the car of a man she just met at a truck stop. Hellooooo? This is wholly unbelievable, but if it doesn't happen there's no story. Eventually, Sutherland figures out who took his girl. Bridges toys with Sutherland, knowing he's got him by the balls. If he wants to know what happened he has to play by the rules."

Excerpt from Crazy 4 Cinema located HERE 

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Twilight Time bring to Blu-ray George Sluizer's 2nd 'kick at the can' for The Vanishing. It looks very strong - tight lines, authentic colors, depth and an overall crisp image.  Standard for them - this is dual-layered with a very high bitrate. The visuals are bright and clean looking akin to a brand-new film. The Blu-ray is impressive with no major flaws - it gave me a solid 1080P presentation.

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio :

Twilight Time give the option for a DTS-HD Master in either surround or a second option for 2.0 channel. It sounds quite good with the 5.1 having some sneaky separations. Jerry Goldsmith (Seconds, Hoosiers, The Blue Max, Breakheart Pass) does another impressive score and it builds tension and suspense throughout. There is some perceived buoyancy and the music is a definite mood enhancer.  There are optional English subtitles (sample above) and my Oppo has identified it as being a region FREE. It is limited to 3,000 copies.

 

Extras :

Only a theatrical trailer, and, of course, as on most Twilight Time releases - you can access the isolated film score track. There are some liner notes with an essay by Julie Kirgo.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Having just watched the, superior, 1988 (original) version on Blu-ray by Criterion it gave me a unique perspective, and not necessarily, an overly-critical view of the film. Sluizer acquiesced and softened the entire viewing experience with the 'Hollywood ending' but there were still some appealing attributes to the film. I liked all the performances - notably Bridges. Great concept film but if I was recommending "Spoorloos" would get the nod before this one, but I was entertained to some degree. To each his own.    

Gary Tooze

October 18th, 2014