Wizard-8 While I applaud the makers of "Disappearances" for managing to accomplish a lot with very little, in the end they put too much on their plates, so much so that the movie ends up as a disappointment. For what was a really low budget, the movie looks great, with plenty of period detail as well as some good cinematography. And writer/director Jay Craven also manages to get pretty good performances from his cast of actors. Unfortunately, Craven ultimately decided that his story would not be told simply and straight. Instead, he throws in a lot of mystifying material, mainly with the unexplained visions the teenage boy in the movie has throughout. But there are also some plot points (like characters disappearing) that are simply not explained. I understand that Craven was probably trying to make something different than expected, but ironically a more straightforward telling probably would have been more successful. I admit that the messy results do grab your interest at times while you're watching the whole package... but then again, so do some car accidents.

Michael O'Keefe Set in Vermont during the Prohabition, Quebec Bill(Kris Kristofferson)is desperate for cash after a freak lightning strike burns his barn full of hay. Despite the warnings from his mystical sister, Cordelia(Genevieve Bujold), he decides to go back to his old ways and hatches a plan to steal whiskey from a Canadian whiskey pirate. Quebec Bill and his 15-year old son Wild Bill(Charlie McDermott)along with farm hand Rat(William Sanderson)and Henry Coville(Gary Farmer), the senior Bill's brother-in-law, set out on a treacherous journey across the Vermont/Canadian border to steal twenty cases of whiskey. The trip proves to be unforgettable and a bit haunting. The cinematography is beautiful and the acting is very commendable. Also in the cast: Heather Rae, Luis Guzman and Lothaire Bluteau.

geekyhunk this film to me is the best craven film so far in his career. the actors are amazing with actors like Lothaire Blouteau, Genevieve Bujould, and the always funny Luis Guzman. i was blown away by the visual effects and the magic realism was complex but very interesting!! i recommmend this movie highly!VERY GOOD!!! i think Charlie McDermott did a great job as young wild bill Bohnone and Kris Kristofferson did his best acting in years as quebec bill bohnome! top notch Dare i say this movie is Oscar Worthy? YES i do! I think that Genevev Bujould should get best supporting actress, Charlie McDermott for best supporting actor, and Jay Craven as best director. this film really blew me away. i still am thinking about it which is the sign of a great movie!

scoot-3 I just finished watching Disappearances at AFI FEST 2006 with about 30 other people in a mostly vacant 1000 seat auditorium. The festival programmer, after seeing the lack of audience, started his opening comments with, "Well at least a few of those attending the festival have good taste in film". Well Mr. Programmer, after watching this film I must answer back "No we don't, and either do you!" This "back-woods" period piece follows young (not so) Wild Bill as he and his mystic family dangerously run illegal Canadian whiskey across the border during America's prohibition. The old-time outlaws (Kris Kristofferson and company) not only need the money to save their ramshackle Vermont farm but want to introduce little Wild Bill to the virtues of manhood.Although handsomely photographed, this adventure story lacks what makes films of this sort good, "tension" and believability. Kristofferson's lackluster performance and dry monologue reminds me of a dream I once had where Al Gore was playing the role of Willy Wonka. I just didn't care and when Wild Bills mystic grandmother appears out of thin air to give him advice it just didn't fit. Yes, I almost fell asleep more than once.Gary Farmer does do a good job as the Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller character; brother-in-law of Big Bill while the teenage Chris McDermott does uses those piercing blue eyes to his acting benefit.But overall expect to see Jay Cravens Disappearances playing at a Block Buster $2 Bin near you.