3. Spoorloos (1988)
Known as The Vanishing to English speaking audiences, Spoorloos is a Dutch-French thriller with a haunting denouement. This film dwarves most thrillers mainly because of its mystifying concept of projecting the villain as much of a central character as the hero. Both characters have a dramatic need, both are psychological case studies of the limits of human obsession and, however sadistic this may sound, both of their intentions are understood. Director George Sluizer somehow succeeded with the latter. How many people can actually succeed in making us comprehend a sociopaths intention? The villain is boldly revealed early in the film, and viewers witness his background and the explanation in flashbacks to why he found the need of abducting a complete stranger. The villain practically did it on a self-dare; could he possibly follow through with doing something malevolently vicious to another human? On one side, there is Rex, a man who, at the start of the film, partook on a road trip with his girlfriend. On the other, there is Raymond, a man who abducts Rexs girlfriend when he stops to refill the gas tank. Both characters complement each other throughout the story. Rex develops a neurotic obsession of finding out how or what happened to his girlfriend, whereas Raymond grows a fascination with Rex and the lengths that he would willingly cross in exchange of his answers. The film is not a normal case of a hero uncovering and defeating the villain by the final whistle. Raymond chooses to reveal a crime that he got away with due to his interest in Rexs maniacal wish of having his questions answered. Raymond has no reason to confess to the crime; he is also guilty of curiosity. He, to a certain degree, relates to Rex, since Raymond notices that they both are everyday individuals with a touch of insanity within their souls. Hitchcock happens to be heavily influential in the psychological study of obsession. In Vertigo, James Stewart becomes obsessed with replacing the love of his life with a new woman by forcing her to obey his demand looking identical to his past romance. In this case, Raymond offers to share the truth that could forever quench his thirst for the truth, but he states that Rex must obey his demands. Rex is complies, and he finds out what atrocity his girlfriend had to suffer through before disappearing completely. I refuse to tell you right now. Guess first, then find your answer on one of the following pages.