Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Vanishing on 7th Street’

Written by Scott Edwards

​Are you afraid of the dark? It is a question that everyone has their own answer to, but most people wind up saying yes. Reasons vary from person to person as to why they are, but it usually comes out to not knowing what is around them when being surrounded by darkness. In my early years, I would not go to sleep without a night light on, as I never knew what the sounds coming from outside of my room were and the light would help protect me from whatever ghosts or goblins were lurking outside.

Working in the theater at the mall, Paul has the life that he desires and he is able to watch people get scared, watch them laugh and watch them cuddle up all from the dark of the projection booth. Knowing what to expect from every movie, he is able to predict what will happen next as he has seen them all more than once. But getting ready to change one of the reels, a blackout hits the theater and when the power comes back on, he is the only person left in the building. With clothes sitting in the seats without their owners, Paul knows that something crazy has just happened that he cannot explain and tries to find anyone that is still alive.

Luke, the new field reporter for Channel 7 is waking up for work when he notices that the signal on his television is dead. Getting to the station, he finds that there is nobody there. Trying to figure out what is happening, he grabs a flashlight and starts trekking around town, looking for someone who can explain what has just happened. Making it to a bar, Luke is surprised to find the lights on and with further investigation, he finds a generator that seems to have survived the blackout altogether. Thinking that everyone has disappeared, he takes a drink at the empty bar, but is surprised when he is met with a shotgun being pointed at him by a young boy.

James is watching the bar for his mother while she is out investigating a light that she saw up the street at the church. When she does not come back, he welcomes Luke into his hiding place, but has trouble dealing with the possible loss of his mother. Rosemary makes it to the same bar, hysterical at the loss of her child. Trying to get the first two people she has seen in days to tell her where her baby is, she slowly comes to terms that there is no explanation for what has happened, and she turns to the Lord to ask for forgiveness and help. Hearing screams for help down the road, Luke is forced to go and try to answer, finding Paul lying on a bus bench, the two return to the bar. The days are getting shorter and the darkness is growing stronger outside, and the group of survivors in the bar know that their time is limited as the only things that are protecting them, is their sanity and the generator that is starting to fail.  

An interesting movie that just showed up on one of my recommended queues that I have not heard about. I liked the storyline that played out and watching every character having to battle to survive. Without knowing what is happening to the outside world, they discover that the light will keep them safe, but will never know what is really lurking in the shadows that is longing to get them. I also enjoyed how the legend of the Roanoke Colony was brought into the story, as it is a mystery of missing people from the late 1500’s that has never fully been explained. Stay Scared.

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