Vanishing on 7th Street (2010)

Vanishing on 7th Street (2010)

In a movie theater, Paul, a projectionist, reads a mystery book to pass the time in his booth. He wears a little torchlight on his head as if he were a miner. Paul tries to combat his urge to sleep, so he goes out and flirts with the girl at the concession stand before going back to the projection room. The electricity suddenly goes out.

The theater goes quiet, and when the emergency lights turn on a few seconds later, everyone in the theater, except Paul, has vanished. Everyone's clothes, glasses, shoes, and things are left behind. As Paul searches the mall, he meets another survivor: a security guard with a flashlight. The guard heads into a stall after hearing something, and he, too, vanishes, leaving only his clothes and shoes on the floor.

At the same time, Dr. Rosemary searches the hospital with the aid of a flashlight. No one responds to her calls for assistance, but she hears small groans. She follows the sound until she finds a lit operating room with a man under illuminated lights connected to the emergency power. His chest is exposed, and the anesthetic has worn off. When the emergency lights go out again, he vanishes as well.

Frightened, Rosemary calls out for her son, Manny. The following day, Luke awakens, surrounded by candles that his girlfriend, Paige, lit in anticipation of a passionate night. The morning sun shines brightly into the flat. He realizes she hasn't returned home and departs for work without seeing anything unusual. He picks up a newspaper in the entrance hall of his building, but it's yesterday's news.

He doesn't glance up until he steps on someone's abandoned glasses and clothes. As he walks further, abandoned cars are scattered on the streets. In the distance, a plane crashes to the ground, making a disturbance to which no one responds. Luke dashes into his office. A shadow figure slowly covers the remaining lighted area in the dim hallway as if trying to reach Luke.

He checks Paige's office, but she isn't there, and the shadow conquers Paige's family photo. Luke heads to his office to look for something useful until he finds an old picture. Luke finally notices a shadow from the door. As he goes to check the shadow, the picture fades to dark. Three days later, Luke is sprinting through the city's nighttime streets with a flashlight in his hand and smaller lights strung around his neck.

He's jumping in and out of abandoned cars in search of one that will start. Frustrated, Luke takes a little break in the last car. When he hears someone yelling, he closes the door. A man approaches and begs to give him one of his flashlights as his lighter's juice runs out. However, Luke refuses to help him. As the flame fades, the man is taken by the shadows. Luke then gets out of the car, rummages through the streets for supplies, and resumes his hunt.

A young girl with a pink flashlight discreetly follows Luke. Luke finally finds a truck that still has some power. However, it isn't enough to start the car. As he gathers batteries and a gun, he hears music. He gets closer to the sound and notices Sonny's, a pub with lights and power. When Luke walks into the pub, he finds it abandoned like the rest of the city. He looks around and discovers a generator in the basement.

Suddenly, a 12-year-old, James, aims a loaded shotgun at him and directs him upstairs. James fires a shot at the wall behind Luke after he calls his bluff, which angers Luke. When Luke notices the young boy is terrified, he asks him for a drink and discusses the situation. As the two drink, Luke finds out that James is waiting for his mother, who's looking for a light source from the church.

She hasn't returned in a long time, and James stays until the sun rises before searching for her. That, according to Luke, may never happen. The days are becoming shorter. Although it's pitch-black outside, it's actually 11:00 a.m. Luke tells the young boy that his mother isn't coming back, and they must leave before the generator runs out. Still, James opts to stay.

When Luke is about to leave, Rosemary walks in, searching for her son. She even fires a gun when they can't tell her where Manny is. Meanwhile, Paul lies on the street with his head covered with blood. Despite the pain, he manages to crawl into a lighted shed. Back at the pub, Rosemary calms down and tells them what happened to her after the vanishing.

Rosemary was lighting her cigarette when the strange phenomenon occurred. She returned home after leaving the hospital to find her nanny and baby had vanished along with everyone else, but she believes Manny's father took him and brought him to the pub, where he used to drink. Then, they hear Paul shouting outside. Luke refuses to help Paul, but when Rosemary and James insist on helping him, Luke decides to go.

On his way to Paul, he perceives a man's shadow across the street and sees Paul lying on a bench at a bus stop. It's the first of many solar-powered shelters that the city intends to build. Luke's flashlight goes out just as he's about to carry Paul to Sonny's. He lights a sparkler, takes Paul, and flees as fast as he can. When Luke falls and injures his ankle, the shadows move in and almost catch them.

But Rosemary opens the bar's door, and enough light spills to keep the darkness at bay. Inside, Rosemary takes care of Paul's wounded head while Luke puts tape on his injured leg. Paul claims that his light went out after being hit by unknown forces. When his light turned back on, he woke up in the street and felt as if he were being transported somewhere. According to him, it was so dark, but Paul could hear voices.

Then, he dragged himself to the bus stop and yelled for help. A little while later, they share their theories on what happened. When things don't add up, Rosemary insists that it's a form of punishment from God. Frustrated, Luke grabs James and asks Rosemary if the young boy deserves to be punished. While Luke continues his argument, the light flickers.

Paul then tells everyone to lessen the load in the pub so that it won't consume more power from the generator. In the basement, they notice a locked door next to the generator. James says it's an emergency exit. Frustrated and helpless, Paul repeatedly kicks the generator, which causes the light to flicker again. Once the generator stabilizes, Paul narrates the story of the lost colony on Roanoke Island.

In 1587, the Roanoke Colony was the first civilization on Roanoke Island in Dare County, North Carolina. When a supply ship arrived, they discovered that the community had vanished without a trace. The only evidence they found was the word "CROATOAN" scratched on a post. He theorizes that they've offended something or someone, and they're being "reset."

As a result, the whole town vanished. Still, Paul is unsure about what really happened to them. Paul collapses unexpectedly, and they carry him to the pool table, where Rosemary cares for him. She asks Luke for an ice compress. As Luke scoops ice, he looks back on what happened after seeing a shadow from his office's hallway. While tracking down the shadow, he enters the newsroom, where Luke sees Paige's dress on the floor.

When the power comes back, he examines the broadcast before the vanishing occurs. On the tape, Luke watches Paige physically slip away. He then receives a live transmission from a Chicago reporter, who claims to have heard his brother, who died eight years ago, calling him from the darkness. He theorizes that shadows in the dark can deceive you.

The reporter tells everyone to only stick to the light they hold and instructs them to come to Chicago and find him. Suddenly, the electricity goes out. As Luke searches for light, he hears Paige's voice from across the hallway. When ghostly forms appear, he steps back as they rush after him. Luke immediately rushes to his office and rips down the blinds, filling the area with sunlight.

The shadows dissipate. Back at the pub, Luke is determined to leave the tavern now that they know the generator fails. He shares what he found out from the broadcast. Luke believes they should all travel to Chicago, and he intends to drive the truck he discovered to the bar and use the generator to give it the extra electricity it requires to start.

However, Rosemary refuses to leave without her baby, and James is reluctant to go without his mother. After a motivational speech from Luke, they finally agree with him. Luke and Rosemary plan to head out to bring the truck into the pub, while James will take care of the injured Paul. Luke hands a truck keychain to James, telling him that it's a piece of good luck, and promises that he'll bring the real one.

On the other hand, Rosemary secures Paul's bandages, which prompts Paul to ask if he has a chance with someone as beautiful as her. In response, Rosemary kisses him. She then wraps a glow stick necklace around James' neck before leaving. Outside, Rosemary's flashlight blinks and then goes out, even though she recently replaced the batteries.

Luke claims that, except for solar-powered energy, the remaining electricity appears to be weakening and requiring significantly more power. They push the truck back to the pub. In the pub, Paul is in pain and begs James to turn on the jukebox to hear one more song. James plays the music he requested, then goes to the bathroom to get Paul a cold compress. For a few seconds, the lights go out.

When it goes back, Paul stares at the ceiling nervously and screams for James. On the other hand, Luke struggles because of his leg. As they rest, they reminisce about their loved ones. Suddenly, the small girl reappears and flashes her light at them, but the darkness closes in on them. Frightened, the little girl runs away, and Luke tries to pursue her, but his damaged ankle forces him to stumble.

The ghostly shadows appear, then Rosemary turns on a car's headlights, saving them both from the darkness. Meanwhile, when James doesn't answer, Paul gets up to look for him. He discovers James' illuminated necklace on the floor. He then heads down to the basement, assuming that James is there. On the other hand, as the truck's headlights dim, Luke attempts to construct a torch out of a metal rod, fabric, and gas from a nearby car.

However, Rosemary says it will burn too rapidly and that they should attempt to find something else to use while there is still some light. Fortunately, they're right next to the hospital where Rosemary works. Rosemary assists Luke as they walk on their way to the hospital with only one light on. At the same time, in the basement, Paul walks inside the unlocked door near the generator.

He finds a long corridor illuminated by circular lights and hears James calling for him. As Paul traces James' voice, he perceives a door at the end of the hall. Paul approaches the door, only to discover that it opens to a brick wall. Frustrated, he stomps on it repeatedly until the lights go out one by one. Paul collapses on the floor, and the darkness starts to conquer him.

Paul recites "I exist" repeatedly. In reality, Paul is still lying on the pool table, calling for James. Suddenly, the lights turn off, and when it goes back on, James, still wearing his illuminated necklace, is in the restroom. He returns with a compress for Paul but only finds his clothing. Back at the abandoned hospital, Rosemary immediately locates a lighter and lights Luke's torch.

She then heads into the storage room to get alcohol to keep the torch lit. Suddenly, Rosemary hears a baby wailing. She notices a baby carriage under a spotlight on the street and quickly runs to it, but finds no baby. Realizing that she was deceived, she looks up and accepts her fate. Luke pursues her, but it's too late. Luke stands helplessly as her empty clothes fall to the ground.

Luke returns to the truck and ties the torch to it to keep the darkness at bay while pushing the car alone. Despite enduring his injured leg, Luke returns to the pub with the pickup. Luke and James immediately connect it to the generator. As soon as it starts, Luke runs into the truck as the pub loses its power. Panicked, he drives in reverse with the truck's hood open.

Luke orders James to keep his foot on the gas pedal to keep the engine working while he closes the hood that's blocking their sight. However, when Luke closes the hood, James notices the church where his mother is supposed to be. He disregards Luke's orders and walks out of the truck, heading for the church. Luke tries to stop him, but James proceeds to the church.

Luke is left with no choice but to leave James, or else the engine will stop. As he drives to Chicago, Luke stops upon noticing a large "CROATOAN" written on an overpass. Meanwhile, as James enters the church, he notices candles on the altar. From the darkness, he hears his mother calling to him. Unbeknownst to him, the shadows are creeping in from behind. As he looks for his mom, a figure behind him appears, ready to conquer him.

Suddenly, Luke collides into the church, lighting up the aisle where James stands. He steps outside, trying to convince him to go, but James refuses, believing that his mother is at the center of the altar. However, when James checks the altar, he only sees a pile of clothing. Suddenly, the headlights go out, and Luke is caught in the middle of the darkness while attempting to pursue James.

As the shadows slowly conquer the church, James stays at the center of the candles while repeatedly reciting, "I exist." However, all the candles go out, plunging them into darkness. Finally, the sun rises, revealing empty cars. Surprisingly, James wakes up surrounded by unlit candles. The little girl approaches him and informs him that he is in her bed. She introduces herself as Briana and begs James to stay with her.

Briana has survived thanks to a solar-powered flashlight, although James is aware that the sun will soon set, and the flashlight will die. As Briana and James leave the church, they notice a horse chewing fallen apples. They ride the horse and decide to take it to Chicago. As they leave the city, the sun sets, casting the shadows of Luke, Paul, and Rosemary as if watching the two.

As it gets dark, Briana's light turns on, ensuring their safety as they embark on their journey. Paul theorizes that their situation is similar to the colony of Roanoke Island. Luke confirms this upon finding the word "CROATOAN." It appears that the mystery that occurred centuries ago, which no one has solved, is happening again.

In the end, despite their best attempts, James and Briana will succumb to the darkness that follows them. There is no safe haven, as there's no place where the shadows cannot reach, as it consumes the world.

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