Notes on "The Vanishing (Spourlous)" Lecture

Overview of the Film

• Title: The Vanishing (1988)
• Director: George Sleitzer
• Plot Summary:
  • Follows a young couple, Rex and Saskia, on a biking holiday in France.
  • Saskia disappears at a gas station; Rex searches for her for three years.
  • Story shifts to the perspective of Saskia's abductor, Raymond Lemorn.
  • Non-linear narrative that oscillates between Rex and Raymond.

Spoiler and Hype Warning

• Spoiler Warning: Avoid if you haven't seen the film.
• Hype Warning: Intention is to analyze the terror of the film, not to over-praise it to unrealistic expectations.

Key Themes of Terror in The Vanishing

1. Fear of the Unknown

   • H.P. Lovecraft's idea: fear of the unknown is primal.
   • The film showcases restraint; after Saskia's disappearance, she is never seen again.
   • Rex's torment reflects a deep, relatable fear of a loved one's unexplained absence.
   • Psychologist Pauline Boss explains this as "ambiguous loss."
   • Rex is denied closure, leading to unhealthy obsessions and inability to move on.
   • Climax challenges trust in Raymond and the nature of their fates.

2. Ambiguity and Moral Neutrality

   • Sleitzer refrains from condemning Raymond's actions; avoids typical horror tropes.
   • Music and tone do not overtly indicate evil, creating discomfort in audience empathy.
   • The film allows viewers to witness Raymond’s actions without moral guidance.

3. Coincidental Nature of Events

   • Raymond's abduction of Saskia feels inconceivably random and purely coincidental.
   • Highlights an amoral universe where chance plays a cruel role in human fate.
   • The randomness of abduction and the innocence of victims makes it relatable and terrifying.
   • Reflects real-world randomness in disappearances, making the horror feel plausible.

Conclusion

• The Vanishing is hailed as one of the most terrifying films due to its avoidance of clichés, exploration of primal fears, and the unsettling randomness of its plot.
• Encourages viewers to reflect on their own perceptions of fear and horror.
• Question to Audience: Does it deserve the title of the most terrifying film?