That version didn't have a Hollywood ending and that was its payoff - one meant for an entirely different audience. The 1988 original European version haunted audiences and made them think because of its dark conclusion. The ultimate sin that North American film audiences could not forgive is obvious pandering to their own glaring superficial tastes when it comes to how movies end. Had they known, there can be little doubt Bullock would have played Rita. At the time (1991-92 pre-production) how could anyone know that Sandra Bullock would soon top the box office like few actresses before her? Nancy Travis had been in a string of hits but then little-known Bullock would surpass her as a star within 18 months of the release of this film. But audiences liked Sandra Bullock better and have always wanted to see more of her which in this case would have meant giving her the more substantial role of Rita than the tragic role of kidnapped Diane. No actress could have given a more convincing performance than Nancy Travis in the role of Rita, the heroine. As a result one of the finest characterizations in his long, distinguished career is overlooked. But audiences had to look past over 20 years of typecasting to accept him in the role and most couldn't. He wanted to play a creep for a change and did an impeccable job here. Jeff Bridges was more readily accepted by audiences as a nice guy male lead. His strong performance should have been enough to carry the film and it would have been had there not been other factors. At the time he was also mostly seen bolstering ensemble casts rather than as a conventional male lead. This is well-evidenced by his critical triumph in the movie 'Freeway' three years later as a kidnapper/murderer. Kiefer Sutherland is an actor audiences more readily accept as a darker character than victimized nice guy Jeff. But it deflated the commercial appeal by ignoring the superficial tastes of moviegoers. It does not impact the quality of the production and should not be counted as negative. The casting didn't follow the traditional route. But these are far from the only reasons it flopped. This movie is used to illustrate those points.

There still persists the perception that remakes are inferior to originals and that European cinema is artistically superior to Hollywood.

Diane's kidnapper Barney (Jeff Bridges) has his own interest piqued by Jeff. His new girlfriend (Nancy Travis) tries to help him pick up the pieces of his life but gets increasingly frustrated over his fascination with the mystery. In this remake of the 1988 Dutch film 'Spoorloos' writer Jeff Harriman (Kiefer Sutherland) searches for his girlfriend Diane (Sandra Bullock) who disappeared from a gas station during a road trip they took 3 years earlier.

The vanishing staircase