What an interesting January this year is turning out to be?
Generally, January is the movie dumping ground. A studio has a film that is not that great but wants to get it out…January. Some studios have cheap horror films that will make a guaranteed nice chunk of cash…January. Most of the attention is on widening awards films and bigger December films riding high off of the holidays with little competition. But we got M3GAN which turned out to be an intelligent and fun horror/thriller ride. Plane is a real solid thrill ride with fun central performances. But will this webcam thriller, Missing, deliver too?
Can the magic that made Searching such a satisfying cinematic experience translate over to Missing?
This is a separate story but same world (confirmed!) film that utilizes the same approaches to storytelling as its predecessor. Aneesh Chaganty directed the previous film and returns as part of the writing team with directors Nicholas D. Johnson and Will Merrick. This film takes a look at a missing persons story from the perspective of a resourceful and afraid daughter. Storm Reid stars as June whose mother (Nia Long) goes on a trip to Colombia with her new significant other (Ken Leung). Along with this mystery, the film tackles the strained relationship between June and her mother (with the specter of her dead father, Tim Griffin, still looming). There is the extent to which you will get any plot points or narrative beats from me.
What makes this new thriller so enticing for the audience?
This story is INSANE. Sure there might be a few clever people in attendance who might all see it coming (I doubt it) but the twists and turns that pepper this screenplay are impressive. You will be on the edge of your seat from start to finish as a great amount of detail is put into this crazy story. The details are expertly planted and the callbacks are clever. The tension throughout the film keeps snowballing until the whole audience is yelling at the scream (at least that was my experience watching this in a packed house). But it is not just a bag of shocking twists. There is some strong thematic work at play here. The parental relationships are layered and lead to some impressive emotional moments throughout the film.
How does this unique approach to telling a cinematic story make the most of this story?
The whole film is shown through cell phones, computer screens, and security cameras. Johnson and Merrick use plenty of clever approaches to plant and pay off narrative details. There are some moments that feel a bit clunky with exposition thanks to some strange web browser searches. But there are some great reveals and twists delivered through revealing what types of screens we are actually looking at. A personal favorite is an in-world streaming show that is used not only to deliver detailed important plot points but also a fun way to frame this story in the franchise’s world. The pacing and transitions through story beats are so smooth that you are glued to the story no matter how outlandish it might get along the way.
What is the heart of this technical and shocking cinematic experiment?
The performers. Specifically, Reid. She has a challenging role as she must anchor this whole film through webcam work. There are many moments when it is just her in front of a computer and she has to deliver such a wide range of emotions. She is at times frustrated and annoyed with her treatment by her mother. Then she is concerned and nervous about her whereabouts. That becomes fear as the action escalates in the film. But it is the sadness and regret that hits her that strikes so strongly. Long gets some great moments as her mother as well along with the other supporting cast. But in the end, it is the Reid train that we latch onto.
Does this little webcam-focused thriller deliver an early hit this January?
Shockingly, this is another quality flick to drop this year so far. But even more importantly, this is such a strong film. This cinematic universe, along with Searching so far, set up some real promise for this studio and creators. Missing is an exciting time worth every second.
