5 movies to watch if you like Vanished into the Night

Vanished into the Night, an engrossing Italian thriller, is streaming on Netflix. Released on July 11, 2024, the movie follows Pietro, a man caught in a turbulent divorce.

Amidst this divorce scenario, he finds his life falling apart when his two children go missing. Pietro looks forth into the criminal underworld to uncover their whereabouts, and the tension escalates.

Pietro, played by Riccardo Scamarcio, starts with a dangerous mission to find his missing children amidst a messy divorce. The movie features Annabelle Wallis as Elena, Pietro's estranged wife. As Pietro initiates the search, his dark past comes to light. It reveals his links with a criminal network that he must confront to rescue his kids.

Renato De Maria's Vanished into the Night is a complex thriller. The story reveals Pietro's dangerous journey to save his children. The story is suspenseful and emotional, showing how far parents will go for their children.

Those who liked the suspense and drama of this movie can try the following five movies. These films explore mystery, kidnapping and a parent's relentless search for their child, keeping you on the edge until the end. So, let's explore five other films that echo the thrilling essence of Vanished Into the Night.

Five films to watch for those who loved Vanished Into the Night

1) Ransom (1996)

Ransom, directed by Ron Howard, stars Mel Gibson as a wealthy airline owner. Multi-billionaire Tom Mullen and his wife Kate's son, Sean, is kidnapped at a science fair.

The kidnappers, led by NYPD Detective Jimmy Shaker, demand $2 million. Tom involves the FBI but refuses to pay, instead offering the ransom as a bounty on the kidnappers. Despite the pressure, Tom doubles the bounty after seeing Sean's blood-stained shirt.

Shaker kills his accomplices and is hailed as a hero after "rescuing" Sean. When Tom and Sean recognize Shaker, Tom lures him to a bank where the FBI intervenes. Shaker is killed in a struggle, and Tom is reunited with his family.

This film, like Vanished into the Night, explores how far parents will go to save their children, but with a unique twist and is available on Netflix.

2) Gone Baby Gone (2007)

In Dorchester, Boston, P.I. Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and his partner Angie Gennaro are hired to find four-year-old Amanda McCready, missing from her drug-addicted mother Helene.

The investigation reveals connections to drug lord Cheese and a staged kidnapping by Amanda’s uncle Lionel and Detective Remy Bressant. Ben Affleck's American neo-noir crime drama shows that during a botched exchange, Amanda is presumed dead.

Months later, Patrick uncovers the conspiracy, discovering Amanda alive with Captain Doyle, who planned the abduction to save her from Helene’s neglect. Despite Angie’s objections, Patrick calls the police, leading to Doyle and Lionel's arrest. Patrick returns Amanda to Helene, questioning his decision as he babysits the neglected child.

A suspenseful and emotional journey like Vanished into the Night, Gone Baby Gone, available on Prime Video, shows the relentless pursuit of truth and justice despite overwhelming odds.

3) Changeling (2008)

Changeling (2008) (Image via Universal Pictures)

Changeling, directed by Clint Eastwood, is a crime drama based on a true story. In 1928 Los Angeles, Christine Collins’ son Walter goes missing.

Months later, the LAPD returns a boy, claiming he's Walter, but Christine knows he isn’t. Captain Jones commits Christine to a psychiatric ward when she protests. Meanwhile, detective Ybarra uncovers a gruesome child murder case at a Wineville ranch.

Reverend Briegleb helps secure Christine's release, and the impostor admits he lied. The killer, Northcott, is caught and executed. Years later, a boy reveals he escaped with Walter, giving Christine hope. The scandal leads to police reforms and Christine’s relentless search for Walter continues.

Changeling, like Vanished into the Night, is about a parent's emotional struggle to find their child and the evil forces they face. This film is currently available on Jio Cinemas.

4) Searching (2018)

Searching (2018) (Image via Sony Pictures Entertainment)

The drama thriller Searching stars John Cho as David Kim. David, living in San Jose, California, with his daughter Margot, is devastated when Margot goes missing. Detective Vick leads the case, but David's own investigation reveals Margot's secretive online life and a trip to Barbosa Lake.

Discovering her car submerged and evidence pointing to foul play, David uncovers a cover-up by Vick, whose son accidentally caused Margot's fall into a ravine. Margot survives five days in the ravine, thanks to rainwater, and is rescued alive.

Two years later, Margot, now closer to David, applies for college to major in piano, reflecting on their strengthened relationship. Searching shows a parent's desperation and determination to find the truth through a digital lens, like Vanished into the Night.

5) Prisoners (2013)

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Prisoners stars Hugh Jackman as Keller Dover. In Conyers, Pennsylvania, Anna Dover and Joy Birch go missing on Thanksgiving, sparking a frantic search. Detective Loki arrests Alex Jones, whose RV the girls were seen near but releases him due to his diminished IQ and lack of evidence.

Convinced of Alex's guilt, Keller Dover kidnaps and tortures him for information. Loki pursues various leads, including local suspect Bob Taylor, who kills himself. Joy escapes captivity, revealing clues leading Keller to Holly Jones, Alex’s aunt. Holly, involved in a "war on God," imprisons Keller.

Loki discovers Holly’s crimes, rescues Anna and kills Holly in a shootout. Keller’s fate is hinted at by a faint whistle. This film shares the same emotional depth and relentless pursuit of a missing child as Vanished into the Night, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre. The film is currently available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

The kidnapping and desperate search for a child in Vanished into the Night and the aforementioned five films are thrilling.

From the historical drama of Changeling to the high-stakes tension of Ransom, the law enforcement perspective of Gone Baby Gone, the digital investigation in Searching, or the intense personal quest in Prisoners, these movies will keep audiences captivated.

Edited by Bhargav