James (played by Gerard Butler) is a protagonist in The Vanishing.
James is an experienced lighthouse keeper with a family waiting on the mainland. He helps conceal the gold, participates in disposing of the visitors, kills a young intruder, and later strangles Donald. Overwhelmed by guilt and distrust, he asks Thomas to hold him underwater, ending his own life. Thomas (played by Peter Mullan) is a protagonist in The Vanishing.
Thomas is a lighthouse keeper mourning the loss of his wife and children. He discovers and conceals the gold, proposes hiding it, lies to the arriving visitors, and helps dispose of the bodies. After subduing James, he ultimately holds James underwater and sails away alone with the gold. Donald (played by Connor Swindells) appears in The Vanishing.
Donald is the youngest and least experienced lighthouse keeper, learning the trade from James and Thomas. He kills the injured survivor in self-defence, helps hide the gold and dispose of the bodies, then urges Thomas to leave. James later strangles him before the final departure. Locke (played by Søren Malling) appears in The Vanishing.
Locke is a crewman who arrives at the lighthouse with Boor while searching for the missing cargo and its dead carrier. He questions Thomas and later returns after the keepers’ radio silence exposes their lie. During the violent confrontation, Donald kills Locke with the woolding. Boor (played by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) appears in The Vanishing.
Boor is a crewman accompanying Locke to the remote lighthouse in search of the missing cargo and its dead carrier. He participates in questioning Thomas and returns when the keepers fail to answer by radio. James kills Boor during the struggle inside the lighthouse.
The Vanishing (2019) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
James
(played by Gerard Butler) — protagonist
James is an experienced lighthouse keeper with a family waiting on the mainland. He helps conceal the gold, participates in disposing of the visitors, kills a young intruder, and later strangles Donal...
Thomas
(played by Peter Mullan) — protagonist
Thomas is a lighthouse keeper mourning the loss of his wife and children. He discovers and conceals the gold, proposes hiding it, lies to the arriving visitors, and helps dispose of the bodies. After...
Donald
(played by Connor Swindells) — supporting
Donald is the youngest and least experienced lighthouse keeper, learning the trade from James and Thomas. He kills the injured survivor in self-defence, helps hide the gold and dispose of the bodies,...
Locke
(played by Søren Malling) — supporting
Locke is a crewman who arrives at the lighthouse with Boor while searching for the missing cargo and its dead carrier. He questions Thomas and later returns after the keepers’ radio silence exposes th...
Boor
(played by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) — supporting
Boor is a crewman accompanying Locke to the remote lighthouse in search of the missing cargo and its dead carrier. He participates in questioning Thomas and returns when the keepers fail to answer by...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Thomas → Donald
(Professional Mentor)
Donald is described as inexperienced and learning the trade from both James and Thomas.
James → Donald
(Professional Mentor)
Donald is inexperienced and is learning the lighthouse keeper trade from James and Thomas.
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Thomas → Boor
(Conflict Adversary)
Boor arrives with Locke and participates in the hostile investigation of the lighthouse keepers' story.
Thomas → Locke
(Conflict Adversary)
Locke interrogates Thomas, who falsely claims that the cargo has been reported and taken away.
James → Thomas
(Alliance Teammate)
James and Thomas begin a six-week shift together tending the Flannan Isles Lighthouse.
Donald → Locke
(Conflict Killer)
During the violent struggle, Donald kills Locke using the woolding.
James → Boor
(Conflict Killer)
During a violent struggle, James manages to strangle Boor.
Locke → Boor
(Alliance Crewmate)
The arriving strangers are identified as Locke and Boor, crewmates of the deceased man.
Story Analysis
A lighthouse crew's discovery of gold transforms isolation, fear, and guilt into betrayal and irreversible violence.
