Vanished Into the Night

First the Netflix description (at least in the U. S.) is somewhat misleading. It implies a grieving dad revenge actioner or mystery in the mold of Taken or The Postcard Killings. It isn't, it's more of a slow burn thriller focused on the interpersonal drama of a small cast of characters.

Even once you realize that and temper your expectations, the movie's not particularly interesting. None of the characters is sympathetic enough for you to care what happens to them. Without any character investment there's no real sense of threat or danger.

The big twist doesn't get enough time to breathe. It's introduced, it's perplexing for a moment, and then it's resolved right away. The movie's technically competent and decently performed but it fails to sustain any suspense or tension.

And the extremely disappointing and forced end made me regret the lost time. Slow action, weak script, bad cast. I didn't empathize with the characters at all. Who can believe such a story? And what is a story that cannot be believed? Science fiction? But this was supposed to be a thriller, not a science fiction movie. I didn't feel any thrill of any kind. Just boredom. Why have two children in a foreign country, with a foreign man, if you don't want to live in that country? I would have understood if it was one child, but why two?? And what was actually the problem of the wife, because of whom she wanted to leave back to her country? She couldn't stand her husband but she gave him a lot of money as a loan... why? And the questions can go on...

It delivers just some of thrills, when the lead actor embarks on a dark journey into the criminal underworld to retrieve his missing children. A parent's love is a great engine to get audiences on board with a thriller. There is plenty of thrillers letting the audience follow the story of a parental figure trying to keep their kid safe in a worst-case scenario. This one is not a particularly interesting movie, just still worth watching for fans of this type of light thrillers, it does provide the escapist entertainment it sets out to deliver. Not every movie needs to be a masterpiece that does something brand-new; sometimes, it's good enough to just deliver the goods in a popular gen and it doesn't seem so good acted either.

I didn't look at reviews before watching this movie.

After watching it, I'm surprised ratings are 5.3/10.

I give 7/10.

Good storyline and twists.

Man and wife are in the middle of a bitter divorce and that includes children custody.

Plus the man has someone chasing him for collecting a lot of money from the man. Ultimatum given.

Threats

Then one night, his children disappear and man has to go to extraordinary lengths to find them. He is prepared to do everything possible to find them.

However man has to face a lot of dangers and dangerous people.

I like how the storyline developed.

The actor playing the role of the man desperately looking for his children is excellent !

"Disappointingly Tedious" aptly describes my experience with this film. From the onset, the movie struggles to establish any meaningful connection with its audience, burdened by shallow characters who lack depth and development. Despite the potential for intriguing arcs, each character remains one-dimensional, offering no real investment or empathy from viewers.

The storyline, intended to be the film's backbone, is weak and riddled with clichés. It meanders aimlessly, lacking the cohesive narrative needed to drive the plot forward. Key plot points feel forced, and subplots are either underdeveloped or abruptly abandoned, leaving a disjointed mess that fails to engage or excite.

As if the tedious progression wasn't enough, the movie culminates in a weird and unsatisfying ending. Rather than tying up loose ends or providing a thought-provoking conclusion, the finale feels rushed and poorly executed, raising more questions than it answers. It's as if the filmmakers themselves lost interest in the story they were telling.

In summary, this film is a disappointment on multiple fronts. With shallow characters, a weak story, and a bizarre ending, it's a tedious watch that fails to deliver on any of its promises. Save your time and skip this one.