Vanishing on 7th Street

Our fear of the dark is exploited in this horror/thriller set in a city where thousands of people begin to vanish instantly during a blackout. With only artificial light sources keeping people from disappearing, a handful of survivors reluctantly led by reporter Luke (Christensen) take refuge in a nearby bar, and figure out a way to last the night. The director Anderson gave us the superb thriller The Machinist, and while neither the story nor cast are anywhere near as good as that movie, the filmmaker makes up for the absence of depth with an atmospheric, unsettling horror. Beautifully set up, he creates an unseen antagonist, allowing your mind to fill in the gaps as the creepy direction keeps you on your toes from beginning to end. Unfortunately the threat is far greater than the reality, as the film contains few genuine scares, relying more on tone and the threat of what might happen. This becomes tiresome towards the end, especially with as uninspired a lead as Christensen. He is bolstered by both Leguizamo and Newton, who provide solid support as fellow survivors. Overall, it's to Anderson's credit that despite a slight script, this film keeps you on your toes almost right to the end.