Missing

Story: A young girl clicks her way through the maze of online clues and trails to find her missing mother, after her sudden disappearance. But her quest leads her to such shocking revelations that make her question everything and everyone she knows. ‘Missing’ is a standalone sequel to 2018 thriller ‘Searching’.

Review: Today, our lives are governed by our phones and always being connected to the internet means we leave a constant digital trail. Our digital imprint and the information superhighway that is inter-connected through a complex web of devices like phones, cameras, digital watches and apps is overwhelming and invasive. But it can also be a treasure trove of evidence and clues to solve a crime and find who and what is missing. And that’s exactly what directors Nicholas D. Johnson and Will Merrick reveal quite extensively in this digital thriller that makes for a highly riveting watch. They drive it all through June (Storm Reid) - a college student, who obviously lives her life on the internet. So, when her mother Grace (Nia Long) goes missing, June starts digging into the barrage of online resources at her disposal, piecing together the information, one click at a time.

It’s a different kind of a thriller that despite being slightly far-fetched, is highly relatable simply because the characters on screen are just as vulnerable as we are. We live our life online and expose ourselves to the apps that track our each and every move. They listen to everything we say and watch everything we do. Through June, the makers expose how there’s simply just nothing that you cannot find online. You just have to know where to click and what to type. There are very few characters in the story and it remains focused on June’s unwavering commitment to finding her mother purely through her digital expertise. The story manages to engage the audience and intrigue them
with some shocking and unpredictable twists.

Storm Reid is the hero of the film, as she ably carries it on her shoulders. She makes June’s relentless pursuit and longing for mother very believable. Nia Long is aptly cast as June's mom and the duo manage to bring out the mother-daughter dynamic, quite effectively. The rest of the actors play their part well. Shot mostly indoors and online, the scenes feel real yet one cannot help but feel the monotony of it all, as the screenplay leads into an overstretched and dramatic climax. A slightly crisper edit would have helped keep the execution more taut.

When it comes to new-age digital thrillers ‘Missing’ is clearly a cut above the rest. It is certainly a few notches above its own predecessor. There are times when it gets dangerously close to being hacked by its own overtly preposterous premise, but eventually it clicks with its ingenuine story and clever storytelling.