Even though it was not necessarily similar to current Hollywood horror films, I would still denote “The Vanishing” as a horror film, for many reasons. First, horror films use the idea of suspense to bring about emotional responses in the viewers. In the very beginning of the film, when Rex and Saskia run out of gasoline in the tunnel I could not help but feel a certain suspense quickly build. When the gasoline runs out, the shot is fairly lit, because they are inside the car. However, the dialogue between Rex and Saskia remind the viewer that this is indeed a dangerous situation, because the oncoming traffic will not be able to see them. Then the camera goes to the beginning of the tunnel showing a truck entering the tunnel validating the dialogue the viewer just heard. When the camera goes back to the car, we see that both characters are getting nervous. Saskia goes through her belongings to find a flashlight but is originally unable to find it. While she is frantically looking for a flashlight, Rex decides to leave the car and walk down the tunnel. While the camera follows Rex down the dark tunnel, the viewer hears Saskia frantically screaming Rex’s name. Despite the screaming, Rex continues to walk down the tunnel and when the light hits his face, Rex actually gives a small smirk. As a result, I feel that this scene utilizes many different characteristics representative in a horror film. First, this scene is established with Saskia bringing about a potential conflict when she notices that the amount of fuel in the car is low. Next, this scene uses the darkness of the tunnel to foreshadow a possible conflict and to bring about a sense of uneasiness in the viewer. After, the scene uses the tension and excitement of the dialogue between Saskia and Rex to even further the tension felt by the viewer. Lastly, the viewer gets a sense of the loneliness felt by Saskia as Rex walked away. As a result, I feel that this scene encompasses many attributes of a horror film.

I also felt that this was a horror film, because it gave a look into the mind of a psychopath. Typically, viewers of horror films get to know psychopaths from the perspective of the protagonist. However, in this film the viewer was forced into the mind of the psychopath and heard the reasons why he did the horrible things he did through the dialogue he had with Rex. As a result, I feel that this is the main reason that the Vanishing is denoted as a horror film, because it forces the viewer into the mind that he or she feels uncomfortble to enter.