Rewatchables Reference

• The first 10 minutes of Barney practicing his chloroform abduction trick.
• Barney showing up / the answering machine message – 'Hello Jeff. I'm the man you're looking for. I'm Barney.'
• 'Your obsession is my weapon' / drink the coffee scene.
• Jeff waking up in a coffin – one of the most terrifying scenes.
• Rita flipping it on Barney – 'That's right, shithead' – and the shovel to the face ending.

• 'Diane Shaver' being an anagram for 'She Vanished.'
• 'Your obsession is my weapon' – one of the great movie quotes.
• Sandra Bullock right before becoming a star (Speed was a year later).
• Kiefer pre-Jack Bauer, in his Flatliners/Lost Boys era.
• The name 'Barney' as a great villain name.

Copacabana plays when they're getting hammered.

Waking up in the coffin / the lighter in the coffin.

• Rita sticking around Jeff after discovering his obsessive 'command post' – she should have left immediately.
• Nancy Travis's character staying loyal despite 18 reasons to break up with Jeff.

• Hacky sack – weird to watch anyone play hacky sack now.
• Answering machine messages as plot devices.
• Jeff's general incompetence – running out of gas, leaving Diane in a dark tunnel.
• Salon called it the worst remake of all time.

Bill: 'I'm okay with remaking foreign movies that I would never watch.' If you bring something new, it's fine.

Jeff Bridges – by far. The insane accent, the weird physicality.

Lynn Hamilton – the crazy neighbor / Lucky Charms lady. Fred Sanford's girlfriend on Sanford & Son.

Sandra Bullock – 'She's fucking throwing smoke. Three scenes. Great job by her.'

Discussed switching Nancy Travis and Sandra Bullock – decided no, both work in their roles.

• Budget $20 million, grossed $14.5 million – a bomb.
• Remake of the 1988 Dutch film 'Spoorloos,' directed by the same director George Sluizer.
• Jeff Bridges' fake arm cast was a Ted Bundy move – Bundy used the same trick in the '70s.
• Stanley Kubrick called the 1988 original 'the most terrifying film he had ever seen.'
• The original ending (Jeff dies in the coffin) was changed after test screenings – 20 extra minutes filmed for the happy ending.
• The 24-hour missing persons rule is a complete myth.

• Jeff Bridges – no, never had his 'Top Gun' moment but incredible career totality.
• Nancy Travis – possibly, this plus 'So I Married an Axe Murderer' and 'Internal Affairs' all around the same time.
• Sandra Bullock – no, Speed is coming.

• Why doesn't Jeff think Diane just ditched him?
• Is Diane an orphan? No parents, siblings, or friends ever appear to help search.
• Why doesn't Jeff just call the police after beating up Barney? Barney uses his real name and teaches at a school.
• How did Barney bury Jeff so quickly? The logistics don't work time-wise.

Strong candidate. Episode 1: Jeff and Diane's relationship, she vanishes at end. Episode 2: flashback to Barney. Slow reveal like Fleishman Is in Trouble. Referenced The Killing as a comp.

• Samuel L. Jackson as Barney would change the dynamic entirely.
• Wayne Jenkins as the cop.

• Is this movie an allegory for the Kiefer/Julia Roberts aborted wedding?
• How did Jeff and Rita explain Barney's death?
• How did Jeff's book do?

• The thermos.
• The infinity bracelet.
• Jeff's red Jeep Cherokee.

Don't drink the coffee.

• The original 1988 Dutch version of 'The Vanishing' – 'though that's a tough four hours.'
• Jagged Edge – another Jeff Bridges thriller.

Jeff Bridges. Both agreed.

Craig Horlbeck: had never seen it (initially started watching the wrong movie – the 2018 Gerard Butler film). Thought Jeff Bridges was really good. 'Ignorance is bliss' having no knowledge of the Dutch original.