Netflix has just released its latest drama, “Vanished into the Night,” keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. Just hours after its debut, the film skyrocketed to the top of the global streaming rankings.
The story follows a troubled couple whose children go missing amid their divorce. After the kids fall asleep at their father’s house, they mysteriously disappear. Just when things couldn’t get worse, the father receives a call demanding 150,000 euros in cash for their safe return.
Annabelle Wallis and Riccardo Scamarcio deliver stellar performances that make the story feel almost too intense for fiction. But is it? Here’s what Netflix’s official news site informed.
All on the inspiration behind ‘Vanished into the Night’
According to Tudum, “Vanished into the Night” is based on the Argentine-Spanish film “7th Floor” by Patxi Amezcua and Alejo Flah. The premise is similar, with the only difference being that the father loses sight of his children while they play a game involving the stairs and elevator, racing to see who arrives first.
The Argentine film isn’t based on a single real case, but rather multiple incidents from all around the world. As the director explained in an interview with Acción Cine, “It takes place in Buenos Aires but could happen in Madrid, Barcelona, New York… We start from an event that may have certain parallels with the reality of express kidnappings, because you always try to incorporate elements of reality into your film.”
These crimes are increasingly prevalent. A notable example is the case of Sherri Papini, who faked her kidnapping to escape her husband, a story detailed in the recently released Hulu documentary.
A closer real-life parallel to the film’s plot is the case of Julian Hernández from Alabama, whose father kidnapped him and created a new identity after losing a custody battle. The case came to light in 2015 when Julian discovered his true origins while organizing the documentation to apply for college.
In summary, while “Vanished into the Night” isn’t based on a specific true story, it draws inspiration from uncountable real cases, as noted by the creator of “7th Floor,” Patxi Amezcua.
