Desaparecida

Directors Nicholas Johnson and Will Merrick return to the big screen with Missing, a similar albeit much improved rendition of their 2018 film Searching. This time around, they excel at building up tension, allowing the audience to breathe momentarily, and then plunging you right back into the drama with a new discovery. The script demanded plenty from Storm Reid, playing the protagonist June, but the lead actor holds her own, often able to dig deep for the emotionally rich scenes, which tend to come regularly in a movie depicting a voracious girl in a race against time to find her missing mother. But just as important as any actor on the silver screen is the score in the background, and Julian Scherle's score quickly caught my attention and brilliantly helped develop the atmosphere. Although there are aspects of the film that can be considered implausible, I find it difficult to hold that against it. The main character is virtually a Sherlock Holmes-level sleuth, not to mention her uncanny ability to operate a computer at the speed of light. Yet the movie requires those two plot devices in order to move forward. I went into this film with tempered expectations, but I think Johnson and Merrick are starting to get the hang of this fully computer-based movie subgenre.

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 an anomaly - for a January movie that had little to no marketing behind it, perhaps the most shocking thing about "Missing" is that it's a surprisingly high-quality thriller with a focus on true unpredictability.

"After her mother goes missing, a young woman tries to find her from home, using tools available to her online." This IMDb synopsis is literally all I knew about this movie as I wanted into the theatre to watch it opening night; I dragged my cousin along with me, who did not read this synopsis before entering the film; as we sat down in the plus, ultra-luxury reclining seats and the lights started to dim, my cousin leaned over and whispered into my ear, "I still have no idea what this movie is about." And besides the short plot description that I read, neither did I. And after watching this movie with only a vague idea of its plot, there is no doubt in my mind that seeing "Missing" totally blind as to what it has in store for you is the optimal viewing experience.

A true missing person's mystery, "Missing" has more twists and turns than a roller coaster at Cedar Point. The story organically unfolds to slowly reveal more pertinent information to the viewer - coupled with fast-paced editing and a rapid, heart-racing soundtrack, the 1 hour and 51-minute running time flies by. And this breakneck speed of the film only adds to the intensity, as you really begin to feel the struggle of having to find who is missing before it's too late. I literally found myself stressed out in the best way while watching this movie - and for a thriller, that's really all I want.

Now, how is the so-called found footage style of the movie - does it get in the way of the experience? Not at all; found footage movies historically get a bad reputation, but "Missing" is an example of found footage at its best. There is no annoying shaky camera where you can't see what's happening, or bizarre editing that hinders you from seeing pivotal story moments. Everything feels fluid and purposeful with a singular goal: To allow the audience to clearly follow the story in the most entertaining way possible.

Honestly, I loved this movie, and I'm having trouble figuring out what more to say other than, "I loved this movie." I'm not sure what's going on this January, but all I have to say is that if you're looking for an edge of your seat thriller, you found it.

Wow, Missing completely caught me off guard. I went into it expecting a typical thriller, but this movie is anything but typical. Ava Zaria delivers a solid performance, but the real star here is the plot-it's a wild, twisty rollercoaster that never lets up.

Every time I thought I had it figured out, BAM-another twist came out of nowhere and threw me off. It's been a while since a movie kept me guessing like this one. Just when you think it's heading in one direction, it pulls the rug out from under you, and by the end, I was left saying, "What just happened?" in the best way possible.

The pacing was great, too-it's tense from start to finish, and the way it incorporates modern technology into the storytelling felt clever without being forced. If I had to nitpick, some parts felt a little far-fetched, but honestly, I was so hooked I didn't even care.

It's the kind of movie you can't stop thinking about after the credits roll. If you love unpredictable, edge-of-your-seat thrillers, definitely put this one on your list!

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.