Missing

I had to pause the movie at one point, and thought about 45 minutes had passed. I was actually at the 68-minute mark when I paused, so I think that's a sign it was doing something right as a fast-paced and engaging mystery/thriller film.

It's the kind of thing that almost has too many twists, but you kind of just have to go with it, and they never frustrated me too much. It was a tiny bit exhausting, but I respect how hard they committed to making things as unpredictable as possible.

Like with Searching, the presentation in Missing is mostly fun. As far as negatives go, though, I can't really go into details without spoilers, but the presentation in the final act felt a bit off to me at points. The filmmakers had certain limitations to deal with thanks to the modern-day found footage format, but they stretched it a bit near the end there. You go from one big twist to "oh, I guess they have to show everything this way now," and it's a bit much.

Otherwise, this is pretty good stuff.

'Missing' is a standalone sequel to the hugely successful 'Searching' from 2018. At the rate technology and social media is moving, I suppose this could be seen as an updated version of 'Searching'.

June is a young girl who still misses her Dad, who died when she was very young. The film's opening scenes depict a tragic story of a young girl who lost her Dad to cancer. Her Mom, Grace, now has a new boyfriend, Kevin Lin, and they're going away on vacation.

When the time comes for June to fetch them from the airport, they never arrive, and are soon reported missing. June then decides to make use of the Internet and social media to find out what might have happened, and discovers much more about her mom and Kevin than she anticipated.

'Missing' excellently incorporates the way we use the internet nowadays, and modern social media is perfectly utilized, making the film very relevant and relatable. Unfortunately, (older) people who don't use the Internet on a regular basis might be completely lost. They simply won't understand how the events can be possible.

Just like 'Searching' we're looking at a computer or phone screen for almost the entire film - without even realizing it. The film is incredibly realistic. But wait, there's more: around the halfway mark there's a shock twist. And if that wasn't enough, there's another shock reveal during the final act.

'Missing' had my attention from the very beginning. It is a very detailed and well written script, and the editing is incredible. I found the film fascinating and captivating. I must be honest, with the film being so realistic I did find the finale a bit too sensational - almost as if they wanted to give the film more edge. This ending, however, felt too much like a crime thriller with most of the realism gone. Despite this, though, 'Missing' is a well made film that deserves to be seen.

I loved Searching (2018) so I was surprised that it was getting a standalone sequel.

For the most part, this is a worthy sequel that retains the great visuals and the compelling mystery of Searching (2018). Storm Reid is the main lead and she gives a great performance. Her character doesn't have a great relationship with her mother and she isn't exactly being great to her. Despite that, the movie gets you to really root for her because you see her desperation and regret once her mother is missing.

I do have a couple of gripes that make me enjoy it less than Searching (2018).

1. I find it hard to believe that the police wouldn't have access to the emails needed for the investigation.

2. Once the reveal happens, I question a lot of the overly complicated plan and the believability of it.

3. I also can't believe Javier has a 2.8 star out of 5 for his service. That guy is an MVP!

Just like Searching (2018), the mystery keeps you gripped with every twist and turn. It's a great mystery worth watching!

Now this gonna have all girlfriends thinking they private investigators 🙄

Usually, I'm not a big fan of screen-life movies, but Missing effectively displays scenes that don't make it feel like the typical one.

June Grace ( Storm Reid), a teenage girl, investigates her mother's ( Nia Long) disappearance through various technological means, Such as Ring, FaceTime, and Instagram.

The movie gets better as it progresses, building an entertaining sense of thrill as the mystery comes alive with two refreshing plot twists. The film does an adequate job of misdirection. I enjoyed the different perspectives and angles used through various camera approaches, which didn't allow me to focus on the fact that this is viewed through a screen. The movie was active. The portrayal of online activity always being traceable was displayed well.

Verdict: If you like crime mysteries, then you'll enjoy this movie; enjoyable and has a decent enough plot twist to make you feel like it is worth your time. Storm Reid did well!

Grade: C+ Thrill: B Plot: B Execution: C.

This is in the same vein as "Searching", a first person mystery/thriller, where almost every scene is of a person sitting at a computer or looking at a phone. If this alarms you, don't let it. It is very well put together, enough notes are put on the "screen" so even the very computer illiterate should be able to follow.

The story is a young girl, who loses her beloved father, and is raised by her now single mother without any other family. The mother disappears while on vacation and the daughter uses her computer skills to find clues. There are many twists and turns which will keep your interest. Not sure if all of the computer navigation is terribly realistic, but it's easy to suspend your disbelief, and I advise you to.