Search - Disappearance (2002) on DVD

Austin Y. (ayoung22) from LOVELAND, OH
Reviewed on 8/14/2009...

Take this movie for what it is. I'm a huge fan of all the cheesy Stehen King movies (The Stand, Langoliers, etc.) so I like this movie a lot. The acting is ok and the overall quality of the filmmaking is pretty bad. But, it has a great premise, keeps you interested, and has an eerie King feeling to it. I like this movie alot, but take it for what it is: a made for tv movie that keeps you entertained and spooked.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Linda C. from KEMPNER, TX
Reviewed on 1/9/2009...

Good thriller that keeps you wondering - could be Steven King

2 of 4 member(s) found this review helpful.

Disappearance is Twilight Zone Meets Stephen King

Music Fan-atic | Hogwarts | 02/22/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The thing that amazed me most about this DVD is that the film was a made for TV thriller starring Harry Hamlin and Susan Dey (best known for their performances on L.A. Law) and although the plot may seem contrived to some viewers, I found it to be chilling, entertaining and well acted. Some viewers, I understand, were confused and unhappy with the conclusion (which I will not give away) but I believe the director's idea was to put you into this family's struggle and see it from their viewpoint, so maybe it's fair to say, all questions should not be answered. In the tradition of the older, thinking-man's films, this movie leaves much room for discussion, which is sadly missing from a lot of today's supernatural thrillers where people always want set answers and happy endings. If you want this in this movie, then don't bother. If you are looking for something that is entertaining and leaves room for debate , this is YOUR type of thriller. Plot wise, all I'll say in synopsis is: Harry Hamlin plays a father of two whom has lost his wife five years previously. In an attempt to help with a bonding relationship with his children and his new wife (Dey) they embark on a vacation out west. Hamlin's son, an avid photographer has an interest in stopping in a "Ghost town" of Weaver to shoot some photos. But no one in the neighboring town of Stepford people claim to have never heard of the town.Well, they find Weaver ...or does Weaver find them?

Some critics may shun this movie for it's Stephen King/Twilight Zone overtones. There are many to be found here, throw in a sprinkle of Blair Witch for good measure. Harry Hamlin is great as the protective father and Susan Dey, sadly missing from today's films is a great highly underrated actress and does well as the protective stepmom whose expectations of bonding with her two new stepchildren are taken to a much higher level. You may remember Dey as Laurie Partridge from ABC's Partridge Family or as the tough but sexy DA Grace Van Owen from L.A. Law.

Overall, I thought the movie had many chilling moments and suspense which will undoubtably earn it cult status if even only for it's "Partridge Family", "LA Law" and "7th Heaven" alumni. In the tradition of Stephen King, Twilight Zone and Night Gallery, this movie scores! Definately worth your time!"

Was this a movie or an ink blot test?

T. L. Jacobs | Illinois | 09/08/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I could say many good things about this move--I enjoyed most of it--but it was a "cheat." What I mean by that is the writers seemed to have come up with about a dozen ideas, wrote some dialog around that--then quit! A movie doesn't have to have a "Hollywood" ending but, once a situation has been set up, it should have some consistent logic to it. In other words, no matter how weird or seemingly impossible a situtation may be (and I can accept everything this movie implied), the consequences should not be ignored.Example: 20-some families have disappeared in the same area over a period of years. Wouldn't that have drawn LOTS of attention? And wouldn't searchers recognize the missing people who had been "converted" (or whatever.)
Most of the residents acted almost zombi-like. But the sheriff could easily pass for "normal" (even though he obviously was not.)I could give many other examples. The best movies are those that make one think. But this movie took the lazy approach to that goal. They simply combined some elements of a scary movie, left out TONS of logic then quit--hoping that viewers would somehow connect the proper dots into a good movie."

I WISH I COULD HAVE GONE TO SLEEP

Fred44221 | Akron,Ohio | 04/03/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I just saw Disappearance with Harry Hamlin and Susan Dey. That is 91 minuets of my life I will never ever get back and I fear God will comdemn me to hell for wasting those precious minuets.I thank God I got this thing at the library for FREE......even then the price was to high. This movie had no plot, no logic and no ending. When my TV screen went black, I sat on my sofa with my mouth open and the little man in my brain was screaming....."What the hell just happened"?!I'm not going to wast our time telling you any more about this movie...but I will tell you one thing. If you see this DVD at the video store or at Wallmart for sale....RUN! Run like hell! At least the sprint will be more exciting."