26 Jan Missing Review

MISSING

dir. Will Merrick and Nick Johnson, starring Storm Reid, Joaquim de Almeida, Nia Long, and Ken Leung

When her mother disappears while vacationing in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s frantic search to figure out what happened to her is blocked by international red tape. At home thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it’s too late. As she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing soon raises more questions than answers. Aided by a washed-up Colombian gig worker, June endeavors to find not just her mother but the truth about her past.

Missing is easily one of the finest films of the year thus far. An entertaining mystery that perfectly paces its reveals with answers that only lead to more questions, the story is solid enough that directors Will Merrick and Nick Johnson have the freedom to experiment with relatively new methods of storytelling. The decision to tell the movie entirely through camera lenses and computer screens isn’t groundbreaking (after all, Missing is the spiritual successor to 2018’s Searching, which employs the same methodology), but due in large part to the nature of the story being told, this format allows the audience to go on journey of discovery alongside June as she breaks any number of unethical hacking laws in order to slowly piece together a timeline of events leading up to her mother’s disappearance. With a plot that’s almost a bit too complex and convoluted, Missing is still an incredibly fun watch well deserving of any moviegoer’s time.

Starring Storm Reid as June, Missing could almost be considered a one woman play with a host of walk on actors for support. With the framing device of everything being shown through a MacBook’s monitor via the webcam, almost every shot of June is a closeup of her face. This allows Reid to fully shine and display her talents as an up-and-coming actress. For the most part she handles the responsibility well, portraying June as the typical self-obsessed teen that also has a strained relationship with her mother. While we don’t get too much of this character’s facet, Reid’s dismissive eye rolls and at times outright refusal to even face her mom go a long way to letting the audience know exactly what the nature of the relationship between the two is. It’s after the disappearance that Reid’s whole aura changes as the frantic search begins.

Also starring Joaquim de Almeida as Javier, cheap for-hire gig worker in Colombia, the story gives what could have been a cheesy bit part a surprising amount of character. Much of that is due to de Almeida’s performance, transitioning from a worker hired to do a job to June’s staunchest ally. de Almeida captivates every time he’s on screen with his scruffy appearance and demeanor; the closest thing the film has to any sort of comedic relief once the pace quickens, Javier’s determination to help June find her mother is both endearing and heartfelt. A sneaky amount of development is given to Javier, and de Almeida makes the most of it.

Nia Long and Ken Leung round out the principle cast as Grace, June’s mom, and Kevin, her boyfriend. While not having much screentime, it’s Nia Long’s absence that’s hangs over the movie, the very driving force of June’s desperation. For what time she does have, Long is great at portraying a mom who’s desperately trying to reach her walled off daughter. Nia’s performance is in her eyes, and Grace’s love for her daughter is apparent for the brief time they’re together on screen. With an even more reduced presence than Long’s, Leung’s role is small but pivotal for establishing the early uneasy dynamic between June and Kevin, providing just enough to make the audiences initially wary of the character.

Written and directed by Will Merrick and Nick Johnson, Missing takes this fresh ‘screenlife’ genre and adds the classic tropes of a thriller mixed with elements of the found footage subgenre made popular in the late 90s and early 2000s. The editors on Searching, one of the better films to play with this new method of storytelling, Merrick and Johnson brought that sensibility to Missing and crafted a suspenseful mystery that’s bound to keep audiences theorizing until the final minutes of the film. With clever cinematography from Steven Holleran, Missing’s technological narrative device never outstays its welcome, leading the moviegoer’s eye in purposefully manipulative ways to keep them off balance and guessing. Aided by the score from Julian Scherle that propels the film’s more tense scenes, Missing achieves high marks for its gripping nature and clever unveiling of information.

Overall, Missing may be the film that kicks off 2023 in earnest. A tight, taught thriller well acted but even more impressively directed by Merrick and Johnson, the amount of inventiveness that went into telling the story is a testament to their creativity and ingenuity. A well composed story and a brilliant script that manages to weave in a number of surprises that don’t feel cliched or tired, the movie demands the audience put their phones down and pay attention to every detail. If you’re itching to catch a movie in theaters but hesitant due to the abysmal track record of January releases, rest assured this is one you’re not going to want to miss. Missing is currently in theaters.

Review by Darryl Mansel