Set and filmed in Italy, Vanished Into the Night follows an estranged couple hunting for their kidnapped children amid their divorce. The film, seemingly a remake of an Argentinian picture titled The 7th Floor, has failed to make much impact on viewers, but the production and picturesque filming locations are clear stand-out elements.
Vanished Into the Night Was Filmed In Italy
Vanished Into the Night takes place in Bari, Italy, and is an Italian production, so the majority of the filming took place in there.
The film was directed by Renato De Maria, and in social media posts he also indicates that some filming took place in Puglia, a region of the country you can find in the southern peninsula.
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One of the film’s locations, a restaurant that looks amazing located off-shore in the sea, was built specifically for the film, and you won’t be able to make an online booking to have lunch there.
The credits also reveal that some filming took place in picturesque Salento, with the crew staying in various locations, including the Hotel Basiliani and the Dolmen Sports Resort.
It is no surprise that the movie was filmed in areas that locals would recognize, maintaining the authenticity of the narrative. There is a strong nautical feel throughout, with many scenes at the harbor, on boats, and in the sea. It’s a theme that runs through the production, even filtering down into some hidden details we explore below.
What is the restaurant on the island called?
The restaurant that is visited by Pietro as he searches for his abducted children is called The Poseidon.
As we said, the location is not real but was created for the thriller, and named after the Greek God of the Sea, keeping up that watery theme.
Vanished Into the Night | Image via Netflix
Renata De Maria Is Behind The Film
Renata De Maria is a director, and writer, who has been involved in the film industry for a long time.
IMDb reveals his first directorial stint on a film called Il Trasloco in 1991, and he went on to direct films including Hotel Paura, Paz!, The Front Line, The Ruthless and Robbing Mussolini.
He is also known as a safe pair of hands when it comes to television, directing episodes of shows such as Medicina Generale, Maigret, and Lolita Lobosco.
De Maria was also the writer on many of these projects and dabbled in acting, appearing in three productions — Aprile, The Caiman, and The Wholly Family.
In 2002, De Maria would marry the actress Isabella Ferrari, an industry veteran who has appeared in more productions than we could even begin to list. Notably, she had a terrible experience filming the 2008 drama Quiet Chaos, where she famously nearly drowned filming the first scene of the movie.
What film are the kids watching in Vanished Into the Night?
Completing my water-themed behind-the-scenes minutia, the children involved in the story are watching a Netflix animated movie, directed by Chris Williams, called The Sea Beast.
It seems the film was deliberately chosen as it fits in with the atmosphere, and you know that there are no coincidences when it comes to filmmaking.
