Writing Before working on
The Vanishing, Sluizer became familiar with journalist
Tim Krabbé through his articles about filmmaking in the United States. These articles eventually became a novel, which Sluizer adapted into his film
Red Desert Penitentiary (1985). After
Red Desert Penitentiary, Krabbé began writing a novel called
Het Gouden Ei (
The Golden Egg). As the film was set in France, Krabbé asked Sluizer about names of towns, and Sluizer advised him on town names as well as family names. Sluizer had access to the early manuscripts of the novel, and after reading the first few chapters he stated that he wanted to buy the film rights. Krabbé initially offered to write the script for Sluizer after he had finished the book. Sluizer described the script's first draft as "not bad, but not good" and wrote the second draft with Krabbé. The two worked on a third draft together, and Sluizer stated they began to have what he described as a "difference of opinion" over what should happen in the film, the placing of scenes, and how to dramatically tell the story. Sluizer stopped working with Krabbé, stating that he had bought the film rights and he would finish the script himself, which angered Krabbé. The completed film accurately portrays the narrative within the novel, apart from two factors: first, the film's narrative is more complicated than that of the novel, making extensive use of flashbacks and gradually revealing personality traits of the central characters; and, second, Rex and Raymond spend more time together following their meeting in the film than they do in the novel.
Casting Writer Christina Brennan characterized Sluizer's casting process for
The Vanishing as "spontaneous." A casting agent suggested Sluizer see
Johanna ter Steege, who was performing in a student play in Amsterdam, for the role of Saskia Wagter. When Sluizer saw that Steege's hair was a similar color to his daughter's, he decided she would be right for the character. For the role of Rex, there was a choice between two actors: a Dutch actor and Belgian actor
Gene Bervoets. Sluizer chose Bervoets because his French was stronger, but later felt unsure he had chosen the right actor, which led him to have a slightly uncomfortable relationship with Bervoets on set.
Jean-Louis Trintignant was Sluizer's initial choice for the role of Raymond Lemorne, but he was unavailable. After thinking about other French actors who could play the part, Sluizer thought of
Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, who had a small role in his film
Twice a Woman (1979). Sluizer discovered Donnadieu had worked in television and had leading roles in films since appearing in
Twice a Woman and got him signed to play Raymond after one meeting.
Filming The Vanishing was filmed largely in
Nîmes, France and the Netherlands on a budget of
US$165,000. Bervoets commented in a retrospective interview that co-star Donnadieu acted like "a dictator on set", resulting in tensions between the central cast and director Sluizer. Ter Steege commented in a 2014 interview that she also clashed with Donnadieu, whom she felt demeaned her, stating that he worried about her capability as an actress: "I found out later on that he was very afraid that I was not good enough to be opposite of him... On the third or fourth day, the situation became unbearable." According to ter Steege, Donnadieu made repeated jokes about her and refused to speak to her in English, despite her only having a cursory knowledge of French. When ter Steege threatened to drop out of the production, Sluizer confronted Donnadieu, after which tensions calmed. ==Release==