Le disparu de l'ascenseur: A weird little vanishing act

Is this worth watching?

Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for grainy, old-school puzzles. If you need a movie to make sense or keep a fast pace, you will probably hate this. It moves like molasses in winter, but there is something oddly charming about how confused everyone looks the whole time.

The whole thing hinges on a guy stepping into an elevator and then… nothing. He just isn't there when the doors slide open on the next floor. It’s the kind of premise that feels like it belongs in a weird pulp novel, similar to the strange energy in The Haunted Pajamas.

Oddly specific details

• The elevator itself sounds like a dying animal every time it moves.
• Arielle wears a hat that seems to have a personality of its own, constantly shifting whenever she turns her head.
• There is a background extra in the lobby scene who just stands there reading the same newspaper page for about four minutes.

I found myself staring at the wallpaper in the background more than the actual actors. It has this faded, peeling look that tells you exactly how much money they had in the budget—which is to say, very little. 😅

Jacques Varennes plays the lead with this look of permanent concern, like he forgot to turn the stove off back home. He walks through the sets like he is afraid of tripping over the floorboards. It is not exactly a masterclass in acting, but it fits the weird, unsteady vibe of the whole production.

The pacing is honestly a mess. You get these long, drawn-out sequences of people whispering in corners, and then suddenly, the music swells like someone is about to get murdered. Nothing happens. It is just more whispering. It’s almost funny.

It reminds me a bit of the frantic, slightly disjointed feel of The Fiddling Fool, where the director seems to be making it up as they go along. You can almost feel the camera operator getting tired of holding the frame still.

I wouldn't say this is a hidden gem. It is more like a weird, dusty antique you find in a thrift store. You don't buy it because it's useful. You buy it because you wonder why it exists in the first place.

Watch it if you want to feel like you are watching a ghost story from a different dimension. Just don't go in expecting a logical conclusion. The ending just sort of… happens. Then the screen goes black, and you are left wondering if the projector broke or if that was just it. 🤷‍♂️