In 2018, a suspenseful thriller set in the world of a computer screen was released called “Searching;” it was the perfect film for a new era of cinema-goers growing up with computer screens being the norm. However, before this, the 2014 pure horror flick “Unfriended” started this new concept of a film centred around a computer screen. It showed us that suspense can be created from the online world. And now this universe has been expanded with the 2023 thriller “Missing.”
The film is not a direct sequel to “Searching,” but it does follow the same plot. All of the drama unfolds on someone’s MacBook — but the drama has been upped, as a next instalment should do. The film follows a daughter left home alone when her mom and new boyfriend go away on holiday. And, as most teenagers, she is using the time away to party with friends and enjoy the extra money her mom has left her — in case of ‘emergencies,’ which is looked at in the lightest of terms. The drama starts to creep in when she goes to pick her mom up from the airport and she’s nowhere to be seen. So starts the technological search for her mom and boyfriend using apps such as Google Maps to track their locations.
Storm Reid’s Performance is Engaging
With “Searching,” the film surrounded around an older man; but “Missing” is centred around an eighteen-year-old girl. It’s a smart move, as it makes more sense for an extremely tech-literate young girl to take on the challenge of finding her mom through the power of the Internet. Storm Reid’s performance is engaging even through a computer screen; she also helps contribute to how emotional the story is, and that she doesn’t know where her mom is or if she’s still alive. The film is mostly focused on her, but yet she manages to hold the audience until the third act. It’s here where the action really ramps up, and there’s a reveal that audiences will not see coming. However, it allows Reid to bring her emotion to the screen.
Critically, even though this concept does work well for suspense and for the Gen Z era, older moviegoers may find this very far-fetched, such as the older character in “Searching.” However, in “Missing” — as the character is younger — she leaves her FaceTime camera on the whole time. Even when she’s not on a call audiences are able to see all the action that occurs. Once you overcome that the film is all from a computer screen, audiences will be captured by Reid’s capabilities to find her mom, even though she is in another country. The unique filming style also allows audiences to experience Reid’s emotional performance, which carries the film to its climatic third act, stunning viewers by what they see unfold, even on the small screen.
“Missing” is now available to stream on most streaming platforms.
