‘Vanished Into The Night’ is Netflix’s new Italian drama which tells the story of a couple going through a divorce and fighting over the custody of their kids. The film has a mysterious punch to it as it promises to keep you hooked to your screens. Renato De Maria’s compelling storyline offers an insight into the complexities of a broken marriage and its repercussions. It has been streaming on Netflix since July 11, 2024.
Cast With Characters
- Ricardo Scamarcio plays Pietro La Torre. He is the protagonist. He plays the husband who is dealing with his gambling addiction. Ricardo has been a part of films like John Wick: Chapter 2, A Haunting in Venice, To Rome With Love.
- Annabelle Wallis plays Elena Walgren. She is a psychiatrist and Pietro’s wife. Her notable films and TV shows include The Tudors, Peaky Blinders, Annabelle, The Mummy, X-Men: First Class.
- Massimiliano Gallo is Nicola. He is the villain and Pietro’s old friend to whom he approaches for help when his children are kidnapped.
- Gaia Coletti is Bianca. She is the daughter of Pietro and Elena.
- Lorenzo Ferrante plays Giovanni. He is the son of the couple.
Plot Summary
The story is about a couple, Pietro and Elena who have filed for a divorce. They are fighting for the legal custody of their kids, Giovanni and Bianca. According to their lawyers, neither of them is fit to hold the custody as Elena has a long history of substance abuse, specifically with opiates. Whereas the infamous Pietro is already debt-ridden. He has a dark past as he has an addiction for gambling. Elena wanted to take her kids to the US, where she works as a psychotherapist but Pietro wanted them to stay back with him in Italy so that he could watch them grow. Thus, Elena devises a malicious plan to kidnap her kids from Pietro’s farmhouse. She even drugs them before moving them to her house so that they don’t remember a thing. When Pietro learns about it he confronts Elena but she denies until he finds evidence. Will Pietro get to take custody of his kids?
What Troubles Elena And Pietro?
Elena and Pietro are a couple who is on the verge of separating as they had filed for a divorce. Their love failed to last long due to their other priorities. They are parents to Giovanni and Bianca. Elena wants to take her kids with her to America where she can begin a new life post her divorce while Pietro believes that the kids should stay with him in Italy. They are fighting over their legal custody but it is difficult to hand over the custody to them as they are also fighting their own addictions. One night, the children are kidnapped from Pietro’s farmhouse. When he learns about it he calls up Elena. They receive a call from a man who asks them 150,000 Euros in exchange for their kids. The rest of the film follows how Pietro tries to arrange the money to save his kids.
Who Was Behind The Kidnapping?
Elena chalks out a plan to take custody of her kids. She bluffs with her husband, Pietro. When her children were staying with their dad, she discreetly creeps into his house and drugs the kids when they are asleep in their room. Later, she kidnaps them and takes them with her. She is also responsible for framing Pietro into drug trafficking and creates a situation in which he is hesitant to take Nicola’s help as he takes a darker route once again. Elena also records Pietro’s confession about having smuggled cocaine to blackmail him. She also declares that Pietro is hallucinating when he returns back with the money and tells him that he is just imagining things while the kids were safe at home with her.
Who is Nicola?
When the things take a sour turn in Pietro’s life, he is left with no other option but to seek the help of his long lost friend Nicola who has ties in the criminal world. Pietro and Nicola were like brothers in the past as he used to work for his gang but after marrying and having kids, Pietro decided to leave the job for the safety of his family. This is why he does not let his kids go near Uncle Nicola as he is afraid that he might harm his kids. Nicola though agrees to help Pietro but only under a condition. It is also comprehended that Nicola was never a true friend to Pietro as he mistreats him when he asks for the money.
Who Gets The Custody Of The Kids? Ending Explained
The story has an intriguing ending. Pietro understands that Elena is trying to blackmail him when he connects the dots. Elena suddenly tries to ignore his calls after Pietro jets off to Greece to seal the deal with Nicola’s men. When he is back, to his surprise he sees the kids are safe at home. Elena declares to him that he is hallucinating and that the children never left. Defeated, Pietro returns to his home where he finds a drug floating in the toilet. He then understands Elena’s strategy to play with his mind in order to get him to sign the letter of consent. He rushes to the airport and asks his children to leave mom as they are not going with her. He tells Elena that he knew she drugged their kids and if he wants he can use it against her but gives her last chance. They leave Elena at the airport all alone. In the final scene, we see children happily playing and as Pietro turns back we see a blurred figure standing behind the door and watching them. Has Elena returned back or she has dropped the idea of divorce and decided to finally reconcile with her husband?
