Cinemaphiles Unite!

Film is a window on the past, an amplifier for the present and a harbinger of our future. The best way to keep cinema alive is to support it: attend films in theatres, support preservation societies and archives, and never fail to appreciate the importance (and stimulating experience) of viewing films as they were meant to be seen.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I have been thinking about the Vanishing a lot this week. It was truly terrifying. Something I was wondering about was the relationship of the killer to his family. I don't quite understand how they did not know he was a sociopath, or how something like that had never become apparent to his wife. It seemed strange to me that he was able to cover up so well. Then again, he had a lot of discipline. I was wondering if people had thoughts on that.
Posted by at

4 comments:

  1. Tin TranFebruary 4, 2010 at 7:38 PM

    Well he obviously is perfectionist in all aspects of his life. So I guess we as the viewer can safely assume that he hid his imperfections with the same amount of care.

    ReplyDelete
  2. EricaFebruary 6, 2010 at 10:27 AM

    Like Peg was saying, sometimes it is the least assumed character who actually commits the crime. I believe this is the most believable and terrifying aspect of the film- that the killer could be your neighbor, someone you work with, or someone you just happen to pass by at a gas station. Basically, her run in with the killer at the gas station was unpredicted and unforseen, and could happen to anyone at any time, depending on the specific circumstances and/or the particular fate of the person. I think the fact that the character was a seemingly well put together man adds to the eeriness and believability that the killer could be anyone. the fact that we get to see this killer interact and slide past his family is even more intriguing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Peg AFebruary 8, 2010 at 7:04 PM

    The study of serial killers is fascinating. One thing that seems to occur frequently is the extreme level of control the killer tends to exert on all aspects of his life.

    ReplyDelete
  4. EricaFebruary 10, 2010 at 10:59 AM

    This reminds me of the killers fascination with free will versus fate. As a child the killer jumps out of a window, proving that he had control over his fate through choice, and free will.

    however, because he also mentions that he had a "slight abnormality" in his personality, it is more likely that this kind of child would "jump" than someone who did not have anything "wrong" with them.
    this makes the act more of a predestined or predetermined event, rather than a random act of intentional free will. it is the killers fate that he will turn out the way he will based on how he was raised as a child.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)