Missing is the latest thriller to expose the double-edged sword that technology is, revealing how it can connect us and enable us to create entirely new lives. And it's one of the best-constructed efforts to date, especially since it acts as a spiritual sequel to the first movie that asked these questions. June (Storm Reid) often feels suffocated by her mother Grace (Nia Long), so when Grace and her new boyfriend Kevin (Ken Leung) head off on a romantic getaway to Colombia, June decides to make a party.
However, when it's time to pick up Grace and Kevin from the airport, they never arrive. June frantically embarks on a search for her mother, using every tool on her computer and her iPhone to do so. But in the process, she learns that Grace may have been hiding her own secrets from her. And those secrets are coming back with a vengeance.
Director: Delmar Washington
Writer: Kale Futterman
Stars: Linda ParkIyana Halley, Garcelle Beauvais
Missing is the latest film to use the Screenlife format, meaning it takes place exclusively on computer and cell phone screens. On one hand, this is a very effective way to create a thriller – there were several moments where I was on the edge of my seat due to the camera being positioned in such a way that shadows obscured almost every part of the screen. On the other hand, it leads to a flood of websites that more or less hit the viewer over the head with "This is how we pay for this movie." I understand that product placement is a necessary evil for some movies, but there should be a limit to how much product placement appears in the movie. Or at least, they should be incorporated in a smart way.
Despite this, writer-directors Nicholas D. Johnson and Will Merrick have created a compelling mystery as well as compelling characters. As the movie progresses, each new reveal reveals a new layer that calls into question the previous scenes. And it also tests family ties. How far would you go to win back the people you loved? How far would you go to protect them?
Eventually, Johnson and Merrick bring the movie to a climax that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats. They do this by having the camera slowly push in and/or move away from the screens, creating a sense of foreboding dread as you read what exactly is on those screens. A score full of high, jarring notes courtesy of Julian Scherle only adds to the unease.
And even though most websites appear as product placement, Johnson & Merrick addresses how technology is used. A scene where June and her friend Veena (Megan Suri) manage to hack into Kevin's account is a good example of this; she gives them a tip, but the officer handling her mother's case correctly points out that this is illegal. And a fake Netflix series referenced throughout the film also shows how true crime madness can take a lot of dimension and humanity out of these types of situations. While the directors aren't saying all technology is bad—it actually plays a useful role in the climax—they're right to address the dangers inherent in this new digital age.
Missing's greatest strength is in its casting, particularly when it comes to Reid. At first, she plays June like any typical teenager: eager for some independence and irritated by her mother's rules. But as the film progresses, her grief for her deceased father and her concern for her missing mother come to the fore, giving the film its emotional core. . Reid sells these scenes to the max, particularly when she's arguing with a federal agent about the lack of response in her mother's case. Not only does it feel painfully real—a black woman fighting for justice and being denied every time is something I've seen happen all too often—but Reid's performance conveys the depth of pain June is feeling. Although the conversation takes place over the phone, the audience can feel the pain and anger in her voice.
Missing is a tense and twisted thriller that looks at technology and how it can be used for good or ill. It's also one of the best uses of the Screenlife format to date and should be a great example of how to use this technology in feature films. Grab the true crime/thriller fan in your life to watch it, or if you're a true crime/thriller fan, convince someone to tag along.
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