The Disappearance of Christina

The Disappearance of Christina

Year: 1993

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: Karen Arthur

ThrillerDramaCrime

Joe and Christina’s marriage is strained, and a sailing weekend with their married friends turns disastrous when Christina disappears and is declared dead. Although police suspect Joe of murder, he becomes convinced she’s still alive as strange events unfold. While uncovering unsettling details about his missing wife, Joe can’t tell whom to trust.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Disappearance of Christina (1993)

Trace every key event in The Disappearance of Christina (1993) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Christina disappears from the boat

On a sailing trip off Los Angeles, Christina vanishes from the deck while Joe and their friends Mike and Lily are aboard. A search is launched, but no trace of Christina is found and the mystery begins. The disappearance sets off a tense scramble among the group as investigators start to pry into what happened.

During the sailing trip Sailing boat off Los Angeles
2

Divorce papers surface

The next day, Detective Davis informs Joe that Christina had signed divorce papers two days before she disappeared, contradicting Joe’s belief that their marriage was fine. Joe wrestles with the shock and questions the motive behind Christina’s actions. The revelation casts doubt on Christina’s plans and signals deeper secrets.

The next day Police station in Los Angeles
3

Joe dreams Christina drowning him

Joe experiences a vivid dream where Christina tries to drown him, blurring the line between fear and reality. He wakes unsettled, convinced the dream carries a warning. The dream deepens his sense that something dangerous is unfolding around him.

Night after disappearance Joe's home
4

Christina's divorce filed discussed with friends

Several days later, Mike and Lily visit Joe to check on him and bring food, and he tells them Christina had filed for divorce. Mike suggests Christina may have committed suicide or fallen overboard, while Lily grows more wary. The conversation adds to the mounting tension and mistrust.

Several days later Joe's home
5

Mysterious call claiming goodbye

Joe later receives a phone call from a voice that sounds like Christina, saying, 'I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye.' The call intensifies his belief that Christina is alive and reaching out from beyond. The eerie message unsettles him and those around him.

Later that day Joe's home
6

Fundraiser raises suspicions

That evening, a fundraiser honoring Christina unfolds and Joe tells Mike that Christina had called him. Mike and Lily grow increasingly concerned about Joe’s mental state as he clings to the possibility that Christina is alive. The tribute turns into a charged, uneasy event.

Evening Fundraiser venue
7

Date book goes missing and home feels haunted

That night, Joe searches Christina’s date book and has another dream about her. He discovers the date book is missing, and he feels as if someone has been in his house. The eerie loss deepens his fear that Christina may be closer than anyone admits.

Late night Joe's home
8

Visit to Madeleine at psychiatric hospital

Joe and Lily go to Christina’s sister Madeleine at a psychiatric hospital, but Madeleine is incoherent and unhelpful, claiming Christina visited the day before and then flew away. Joe spots Christina’s bracelet on Madeleine’s wrist and tries to wrest it away, triggering an alarming outburst. Detective Davis later confronts Joe about the alleged assault.

Days after the date book incident Psychiatric hospital
9

Dress, arrest, and release

Late one night, Joe finds Christina’s red dress in the dryer and hides it, but a maid takes it to the police, leading to Joe’s arrest for murder. He is released due to a lack of hard evidence, and the mystery tightens around what really happened. Investigators press on for real proof of Christina’s fate.

Late night Joe's house and police station
10

Coroner: body isn’t Christina

Joe and Lily go to the coroner’s office to identify a body, but it is not Christina. Lily privately tells Detective Davis she believes Christina is still alive, which reframes the entire investigation. Suspicion shifts toward hidden finances and possible deceit within the relationships.

Next day Coroner’s office
11

Financial clues and condo evidence

Investigators uncover large unexplained financial discrepancies on a major construction project, and Christina’s date book is found along with a gun in Mike’s office. Joe and Lily trace a condo by the marina where Mike and a woman resembling Christina had a February deal. They also uncover a secret crawl space in the marina boat cabin that could have concealed someone.

Days later Mike's office and marina condo
12

Gaslighting exposed; climactic showdown

Lily reveals she has been gaslighting Joe to make him doubt Christina’s fate, and confesses to killing Mike to cover up the affair and the fraud. Joe survives the confrontation, and Detective Davis arrives to reveal the red dress was brand-new and never worn by Christina. In the final moment, a figure resembling Christina is seen at the water, implying she may still be alive.

Final scenes Joe's hospital, marina, and waterfront

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 12:13

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Gaslighting Thrillers like The Disappearance of Christina

Stories where the protagonist's reality is systematically dismantled by unseen forces.If you enjoyed the psychological manipulation in The Disappearance of Christina, explore more movies where a protagonist is gaslit and framed. These similar thrillers and crime stories feature protagonists whose reality is questioned, leading to intense paranoia and a desperate search for the truth.

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The narrative pattern follows a protagonist who initially accepts a troubling situation, only to have their reality systematically challenged. They face mounting evidence designed to make them seem unreliable or guilty, forcing them to investigate a conspiracy that often involves someone close to them, all while their sanity is questioned.

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Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on psychological manipulation (gaslighting) as a central plot device. They create a tense, paranoid mood through a steady pacing that methodically unravels the truth, often leaving the audience as uncertain as the protagonist.

Thrillers with Ambiguous Endings like The Disappearance of Christina

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Narrative Summary

The journey is defined by a heavy emotional weight and a steady, suspenseful pacing that leads to a pivotal reveal or confrontation. However, the final moments intentionally withhold full closure, focusing instead on the emotional or psychological impact on the characters and leaving the ultimate fate ambiguous.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups movies based on their shared narrative structure of building significant tension only to conclude with an ambiguous or unresolved ending. They prioritize a melancholic, contemplative mood over clear-cut solutions, creating a heavier and more memorable emotional experience.

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The Disappearance of Christina Summary

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The Disappearance of Christina Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Disappearance of Christina

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Disappearance of Christina

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