MovieChat Forums > Disappearance (2002) Discussion > Discuss the ending

Discuss the ending

posted 20 years ago by avallaunius
74 replies | jump to latest

What an annoying ending, to actually make me spend time having to think about it.
Is anyone is still around who wants to discuss the facts in an open minded way?
If you just want to state your own cast-iron opinion, please make your own thread.
Sorry this is long, but I had to try and put some reasoning for my views. Rather than just making unfounded claims.

First, what points can we assume?

1) The Enemy
i)The enemy creatures are not normal humans. We know this because they live in underground mines and do not come out in sunlight.
ii) Their appearrance must be horrid, but not devastatingly so, we can tell this from the reactions of the victims who see them (on the video and at the very start).
iii)They have a below average understanding of technology, we know this because they horde stolen flashlights, but are not smart enough to use the car batteries for similar purposes.
iv) They are sentimental in nature (despite being killers) as they also horde childrens` toys. This also suggests that they have children.

Now, it seems to me that aliens capable of interstellar flight would;
be so hideous as to cause a greater reaction in the victims,
have a greater grasp of technology than simply pinching flashlights,
have no interest in human childrens` toys.
Likewise, ghosts would petrify the people who saw them, would not need lights or toys etc.
Those two ruled out, I am in favour of mutants.

2) Bodyswapping.
It certainly seems like there is some bodyswapping going on.
i) the dead girl is apparently working at the restaurant.
ii)The Dad`s admiration for the mororcyles matches that of the old man`s admiration for the car.
iii) Those kids act very strangely at the end.

If we can assume both mutants and body swapping, the question is, how do a bunch of dumb mutants manage to swap bodies?
My answer is- occult methods. In other words black magic.
i) They find what is probably meant to be a human skin, which has been decorated with occult markings. Could this be a primitive form of body swapping that was later improved? If not it still shows us a link between `the symbol` and the shedding of skin.
ii) They crazy guy is taken to the place where `the symbol` is made from cars, apparently for some kind of ritual. The cop knows to take him there, and the crazy man knows what will happen there. It is obviously a place where rituals of some kind are performed.

Questions I cant figure out:
How did they learn this magic?
What actually happened to the boy in the desert? Magic?
If the lady was such a big shot editor, somebody would come and look for her and start at the last place she was heard from (she made a phone call from the diner) and then see her unaccountably working there as a waitress. At which point surely the game would be up for our gang of freaks?
Why use cars to make the occult symbol?

[–] Heavyweight86 19 years ago

Will they make a sequel?

[–] biker_wanabee 19 years ago

I had several posts under a different account that got deleted. I like the case you made for mutants and body swapping, that should be the stable base we start from. But I thought that symbol was obviously a neutron bomb as disussed in the movie, the mutants were made from people who didn't evacuate as also discussed in the movie, and I believe the cars being arranged was meant to be seen from the sky, where the bomb originally was seen coming down from. I believe we are dealing specifically with kids that were mutated because as somebody pointed out they stold toys.

A couple notes from my deleted posts, what if the town wasn't actually warned at all because they thought it was a 'safe' distance? What if the crashed plane was observing from a 'safe' distance and also found out it wasn't safe, not far enough away? What if the crow is the spirit of the pilot, still observing from the air?

Also the family vehicle that wouldn't start, they show a pulled out wire under the transmission, obviously the 'neutral safety switch', which they plugged back in after they pushed it out of hearing range.

Also the thing in the cave walks like a 5-legged ape, five steps, throws itself forward, five more steps, over and over, even when it starts "running". The guy in jail said "And the animals became monsters".

This movie is a tough one.

[–] myp-91 19 years ago

The movie was on this morning on TBS, and it looked pretty good so, I watched it. The movue "The Hills Have Eyes" went into theaters a while ago and I knew it was a remake so at first I thought it was the original. However, I was told, by someone who saw the original, that you see the mutants in the movie. So maybe this is a prequel to "The Hills Have Eyes". Maybe they're spin-offs.

Also, I do think that the "creatures" were mutants. I think that the people in the town were never warned of the nuclear testing, and the radiation from the bomb, in turn, mutated them. But, I think they were still able to have children, hence the stealing of childrens toys. I also think that the mutation "inproved" them. I know that sounds weird, but, to me, it seemed like these mutants were extremely fast, and large. I also think they were very strong, which would explain the SUV flipping when it hit the mutant. It would also explain how they moved all those broken down cars.

As for the whole "body snatching" thing, I don't think so. The only idea I can come up with is that the town "sacrifices" tourists to the creatures, and in turn, the creatures do not attack the town's people. However, based on the movie, I do not think the family, especially the daughter, would send unsuspecting victims to their death. And so I do not have a complete explaination for the ending, but who does? There was just to much left unsaid. I am thinking about writing a letter to the writer asking just what he was thinking while writing the screenplay for this movie.

I suppose that brainwashing could be a possible solution. But, how would such a primitive group of freaks know how to brainwash all those people. It is explained that they are primitive-they don't know how to use flash lights.

Also, why can't the freaks go out in sunlight? At least, I'm guessing they can't; they only time you see them outside it's night, and they live in mine shafts. This could explain why they need the towns people, maybe they need the "normal" people to survive, and the use the town's citizens to obtain their food.

Although I do not think that body snatching is what was going on, it could make sense. Maybe, while wearing the human skin, the creatures are able to move around in the sunlight. Like I said before I do not have a complete solution for the ending, to many things were left unexplained.

To go back to my "The Hills Have Eyes" idea, I was just reading the synopsis of that and it says that in that movie a family is on a trip through the southwest. Coincidence? Also it says that while on this trip the familys car breaks down, and while it seems like a usual thing the family begins to think that the car breaking down was a trap. Another coincidence? Then it said that the family had entered an area that was once used for nuclear testing. Didn't the father character in "Disappearence" have that idea as well? It seems like it's the same movie! Doesn't it? And so now I am off to write to the writer of "Disappearence" and Wes Craven, he wrote both versions of "The Hills Have Eyes"

Sorry my response is so long,
Myp91

[–] rebecca-eskritt 19 years ago

I have seen The Hills Have Eyes, and when I was watching Disappearance on TBS today I freaked out saying that this movie was a rip off of that movie, but obviously this one was made first so I did a little research. The Hills Have Eyes the Wes Craven film is actually a remake of another Hills Have Eyes, made in 1977. But I was astonished at the obvious rip off. When comparing this movie with Wes Craven's movie, there are just so many similarities

1) The Diner/Gas Station in the middle of the desert that the family stops at
2) Two men wandering out into the desert to find help and only one returns
3) The scene where the man finds the crater with all the vehicles (exactly the same)
4) The mine shafts
5) The explanations of the bomb that mutates the people who refused to leave

I am still in shock about this

[–] barrie-2 18 years ago

You know what's funny? I worked as crew on this film, and when I first read the script I thought I'd heard it all before somewhere, but couldn't figure out what it was. I worked closely with the writer/director and never asked him what his influences were or anything. I didn't really care at all by then. But just recently the remake of 'the hills have eyes' came out and I couldn't believe it. Not only was it a remake of Wes Craven's original, but Disappearance was almost identical. At no point did ANYONE in the cast or crew mention anything about the two films being virtually the same. And I know how much everyone in the production got paid. Tons. So if that's the reward for taking an idea from the 70's and basically writing the same thing over again and presenting it as an original made for tv movie, then everyone go nuts. That's all that happened here folks.

[–] Ed_the_happy_BioCloner 18 years ago

look i saw the original 'hills' movie 15 years before i saw 'disappearance' and at no time did i get an impression that it copied it. I have not seen the new 'hills' but people are saying it ripped off 'disappearance'. However extending this to claim that 'disappearance' was in fact a rip-off of the original 'hills' to excuse the remake of 'hills' for ripping off 'disappearance' is lame crap, just as much as you trying to pretend you were on the 'crew' to fortify your dopey allegation.

[–] barrie-2 18 years ago

Pretending I was on the crew to fortify my dopey alligation? Wow, them's fighting words. I wish mate, I really do. I don't mind if you liked the film at all, and if it got you thinking about different possibilities as to the ending, that's great. That's what films are supposed to do. It also doesn't bother me as to who's ripping off who. There are undeniable similarities between both films though, and I really wish I'd known it at the time. If I could take back those months I worked on the film, I would. I can scan you some pics of us behind the scenes if it really means that much to you. Or come on down to South Australia and you can get the tour. Believe me tiger, there is no way I'd want to pretend I worked on it to get some random cred. I haven't worked on a film since. It was absolute hell.

[–] FlorenceLawrence 17 years ago

so could you explain the ending

[–] RiverGirl85 17 years ago

Awesome movie until the last 10 minutes which spoiled the whole thing. What a waste :(

RIP River Phoenix
RIP Heath Ledger

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] sfilojon 18 years ago

the only problem with saying this is a prequel, or in any way related to 'The Hills Have Eyes' is that the mutants have an entirely different agenda. in "Hills", the mutants are seen all the time, they go out in the daylight AND at night, and they walk around like human beings, on 2 legs (because they are human beings). The mutants in "Hills" not only kill the people, they eat the people as well. In "Disappearance", we only see the people being brainwashed, not eaten, or even murdered really. If it's a case of body snatching though, it would be a most interesting scenario.

I also know both films take place in the desert, but not in the same location. "Hills" is in New Mexico, and "Disappearance" is in Nevada.

I, too, don't understand the ending of this movie, but I don't think it's meant to be in any way related to "The Hills Have Eyes", so I just thought I'd throw out a few of the major differences...

"You can never have too many hats, gloves, and shoes." ---Patsy Stone

[–] FlorenceLawrence 17 years ago

Did the writer of the movie reply ?

[–] gandia_3 12 years ago

I think the car flipped over because after the dad hit the mutant or whatever, he drove into a sand hill... I remember that part clearly.

Now:

Also, why can't the freaks go out in sunlight? At least, I'm guessing they can't; they only time you see them outside it's night, and they live in mine shafts. This could explain why they need the towns people, maybe they need the "normal" people to survive, and the use the town's citizens to obtain their food.

You mean like Morlocks from "The Time Machine"?

[–] Naturalessence 19 years ago

This movie requires too much thinking. If I wanted to magically solve problems, I'd break out a math book.

[–] Mddunsmore 19 years ago

im wondering how hitting one person could flip a big SUV completely over when it should have squished it flat...
and wut happened to Ethan in the desert..he definitely didnt seem like himself when they brought him back...
and what was really up with the ending?
i was so confused...first i understood it then the ending came and i was really questioning myself as to wether i really understood it at all...

[–] JTM4550 19 years ago

It was on TBS this morning at 7 AM and I REALLY don't get this. I missed the first half hour, but I think Iget the jist of it everything that happened in the beginning. Can someone who understands please explain the ending to me?

[–] maybeary11 19 years ago

This movie is one that completely through me off, and I don't want to make my own ending, you know!? I want to know what the writer wanted us to get out of it. And obviously this movie involved a lot of symbolism. Especially with the crow at the end there. It has to be some sort of body snatching, because at the end you can see that they're obviously not themselves just like Ethan when they got him back. And what really bothered me was that they were playing basketball without the net, so they really are like vegetables walking around.

Another big piece to me that was confusing was the guy in the jail (Rusty?), what happened to him, why didn't they snatch his body instead of kill him, ya know? And with those fresh graves back at the mining town, some people must have been killed, and not had their bodies reused. So how do they choose?

And why at the beginning did that old guy at the diner actually give them the warning of staying on the pavement. Obviously he knew something and wasn't completely brainwashed right!?

This movie was different but I enjoyed it I just wish I knew what really happened!

[–] andretfernandes 19 years ago

Hi avallaunius,

your conclusions are very similiar to mine. My opinion:

aliens: discarted - intelligent beings would never be enchanted by flashlights and worship a neutral bomb.

indian spirits - discarted - the monstres are real. Spirits don't need flashlights, dolls, etc.

mutants - ???? - how a mutant takes over someone's body?? Magic??

Maybe you can try to help me with somethings:

the old man in the beginning: as it was posted, he didn't want the people to go Weaver. Why?

the crown: How does it fit?

the 4 tombs: ????

[–] bradereb 19 years ago

I just finished watching it on TBS as well - and i have to admit that I missed the beginning - but it seems to me that the mutant conclusion is the best for explaining the creatures. But as for the end, I really think that they were simply brainwashed. It is obvious that there was no ravine, but Ethan was made to think that there was. So it is possible that after the familly was found, the could have all been brainwahed to believe that the town was their home (like the girl from the video). It wBut like I said, missing the beginning may limit my understanding of the end.

Also, if the girl from the video wasn't killed by the creatures - why were there 4 unmarked graves? Hmm...maybe bodysnatching makes sense to explain that?

Lastly, has anyone seen "The Hills Have Eyes"? I haven't, but I assume it is very similar to "Disappearance."

[–] cac1011 19 years ago

I'm going with brainwashed as well simply because the little girl is still wearing her head phones...even though the cord is cut.

...or she is now a mutant mongoloid in a little girl suit. I guess that would explain it as well.

[–] bradereb 19 years ago

I didn't notice that the cord was cut... but if the mutants couldn't understand the 'complexity' of a flashlight, then they probably wouldn't understand a CD player.

However, they do understand that cars can't run without batteries... and how to disable them... HMM....

Oh so many plot holes....

[–] jgoodroe2590 19 years ago

I also missed the first half hour but I agree with the assumption that they are mutants. The problem is, this leaves a very open range of possibilities since we really couldn't know exactly how these people were affected by the neutron bomb.

Maybe we should consider radiation sickness and how it affects the body and mind. But, at the same time, it would still be difficult to explain the "brainwashed" state of the family at the end and the rest of the people in the town.

In retreating to the fundamental facts of the movie, we know that when people enter this area they don't come back out. Could it be that these mutants have become spirits that constantly need new bodies to remain in existence? Maybe there are some mutants that survived and still reside in the mine and rest have taken over the bodies on the surface.

One thing that continues to bother me is when the 18-wheeler and the bus tried to block the family in the main street of the town. Who was driving those vehicles? The family didn't stay to find out.

Frustrating movie at best.

[–] bradereb 19 years ago

I forgot about the bus!!! My personal guess that that certain people in the town with the diner knew what was going on. The deputy obviously knew and it could have been him drving the bus - trying to keep them in the ghost town. Like he tried to keep the family in the town after he 'found' Ethan. It seems clear that the people of diner-town were basically slaves to the other town - they had to keep the mutants (or whatever) well fed, or else he wouldn't have left Lester in the desert. Lester also knew something was going on (even though he wasn't sure what it was), because he begged for death rather than being left in the dessert. I think that the family hit Lester (bodysnatched or otherwise) with their van at the end.

[–] emiliob 19 years ago

well i havean idea, maybe its just a really bad made for tv movie

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] cheergrl1313 19 years ago

I agree with everyone. one thing that only has been discussed once was the graves. if they were bodysnatched.. why would they be buried? this movie just needs a sequal.

[–] tytuss 19 years ago

Hey unlike most of you i saw the movie from the beginning but i fell asleep before the end. could anyone tell me exactly what happened? I fell asleep right after the part where they see the "dead" girl working at the fast food place.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] tytuss 19 years ago

thanks!

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Sweeteeg16 19 years ago

That's awesome, I left for work at the exact same time and now I have no clue how the movie ended.

[–] killchav-1 17 years ago

this may be a little stupid but a few things came to mind after i watched this.

1) aliens crashed on earth or something long ago and maybe they were like the shapeshifter in john carpenter's The Thing, they tried to immitate humans but couldn't quite do it. it'd explain why the creatures look mutated.

2) they wear people's skin in order to blend in (rhyme hahah). that would explain the whole 'not knowing how a CD player works' thing, as aliens wouldn't know.

3) hording flashlights - if the mutants are aliens they may be trying to work out human technology and flashlights and dolls and stuff are all they can find in the desert. you can't exactly find serious technology in desert nevada. maybe that's speaking stereotypically (sp?) and im' sorry if i offend.

these 3 things may explain a few things but just like everyone else on here i can only speculate as the ending left alot of questions unanswered. actually i was quite taken by this and im' currently working on a test script for an indie sequel which i hope to direct :)

good film anyway, hope someone else can provide solid answers.

xxadamxx

[–] I_Troll_The_Living 16 years ago

it's the worn-out bodies that they left behind that were buried, get it?

[–] saintbriggz 19 years ago

im thinking mutants...

they didnt take the toys and clothes and flash lights to use them... they took the flast lights so the people couldnt see and use the flash lights against the mutants... the clothes and the toys they took so when others came they didnt see all this stuff sitting around that was out of place....

So to the ending where Kate sees the girl from the video at the diner... im thinking that the mutants did something to her like not nessesaraly brain washing her but something of that sorts... the mutant freaks use the "town's" people to send the new tourist to the abandon town... and the cycle just keeps repeating its self... but i dont know what they do with the old towns people when they get new ones... cause the old man that liked the SUV and the waitress from the beging of the movie where replces with patty and Jim...

When the cop leaves the old man out at the car symbol... i think hes trying to get rid of him... so he doesnt talk and tell vistors about whats really going on...

anyways i dont really know what happend... i wish i did cause i loved the movie... but the ending pretty much sucked!

[–] stacia9692 19 years ago

they ending was dumb. I don't think the writers even know what really happened. They probably just wanted to wrap it up.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] toa-of-magic 19 years ago

ok guys what about the sandstorm ??????????
it must have to do with some thing

maybe its evil sand i dont know little help hear

*trips you* have a nice trip see you at the next fall!

[–] jmarkoff2 18 years ago

The creatures CAN use electric tools within limits. When we first "see" one (well, we are one, seeing what it sees a la Jaws), it picks up a flashlight, turns it on, and snoops around the house.

The 4 bodies. The best theory I've heard of this: the critters are old and decrepit, so they take unsuspecting tourists, SWAP BODIES with them, and kill the tourists who are now in the old, useless bodies. Then the critters continue life looking like the tourists, such as the soda shack girl (with a critter's soul) who used to be a terrified tourist.

[–] Garmonbozia2517 18 years ago

I was able to grasp the whole 'body swapping' concept, but all the theories about it leave one piece out of the puzzle. I liked the one in the post above this, but:
1)If they killed the people after they swapped bodies, then that is not consistent with the ending of the family acting all messed up.
2)This ending suggests that the bodies are just swapped up, so if the families bodies were swapped with the original diner people's, then what happened to the original diner people's? Who did they swap with? The only (possible) hint they gave to answer anything was the crow, which had no explanation whatsoever. The body of the film was written well, just when writing the end, the writer forgot to give a clearer explanation, as to him it made sense. Someone should get the damn writer to fess up!

[–] chrissy2911 18 years ago

I don't understand why when the creature was snooping around the house, the one thing it decided to take was the jacket...