THE VANISHING is the second recent film I've watched that's been based on the real-life Flannan Isles lighthouse mystery, and I know of at least two more in existence. The first I saw was a creature flick with Ray Stevenson that turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable, more so than this one. The problem with this film lies in the writing, which is merely average and acceptable rather than being compelling.
It's a slow burner when it doesn't need to be, and the running time does feel stretched at times, leading to repetition in terms of revealing character traits that have already been previously examined. The thriller aspects are handled better and things get more and more interesting towards the climax. Cast-wise, Peter Mullan is dependable and you can tell that Gerard Butler is relishing the opportunity to play something other than a stock action hero.
It's a slow burner when it doesn't need to be, and the running time does feel stretched at times, leading to repetition in terms of revealing character traits that have already been previously examined. The thriller aspects are handled better and things get more and more interesting towards the climax. Cast-wise, Peter Mullan is dependable and you can tell that Gerard Butler is relishing the opportunity to play something other than a stock action hero.