Screenwriters Aneesh Chaganty and Sev Ohanian, the masterminds behind Sony Pictures Releasing’s mystery thriller, Searching, developed a standalone sequel to the 2018 box office hit. With Nick Johnson and Will Merrick penning the script for their directorial feature debut, the film follows a similar reliance on technology to uncover the twists and turns of its story. Storm Reid stars as June Allen, a teenager who goes on a technological hunt for her missing mother. Offering twists and surprises like its predecessor, Missing is enthralling from beginning to end with a heartwarming theme of family at the center.
June (Reid) and Grace Allen (Nia Long) don’t have the best relationship. After the death of her father James (Tim Griffin), June feels as if her mother just doesn’t understand her. But when Grace disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend Kevin (Ken Leung), June throws all hatred aside to reunite with her mother again. As her search for answers reaches one hindrance after another, June creatively uses all the latest technology to try and find Grace before it's too late. And when her search reveals more questions than answers, June comes to realize that she may not know her mother at all.
Johnson and Merrick’s standalone sequel to Searching is a great follow-up to a film that shattered all expectations with its premise and execution. Of course, Missing uses some familiar tricks and conventions as its predecessor, but it also adds additional elements that audiences today would find appealing for its plot. For example, this story contains some clever uses of social media and incorporates it into the storytelling structure that may be familiar to viewers. As a result, it’ll be easy to fully immerse oneself in this gripping ride that is full of twists and shocking surprises.
At the core of Missing’s plot lies a story about a daughter wanting to reconnect with her lost mother to make amends. When viewers first find June, she’s reliving old videos of her deceased father one moment then sulking and trying to relieve herself from her mother’s presence the next. Whatever the cause of their estrangement, it serves as a great emotional stake to fully convince viewers of the importance of their reunion. With June coming across new and disturbing information about Grace during her search, it also serves as a sensitive conflict that is too juicy look away from.
One of the elements that Missing succeeds at — even more so than its predecessor — is the attention and time spent on its supporting characters. Viewers will learn a lot about Kevin’s past and how he came to know Grace. Their story, unraveled through social media and other apps, makes for a creative and fascinating watch. The script even spends time on Javi Ramos (Joaquim de Almeida), a Colombian local who helps June search for her mother when the authorities run into dead ends. Their backstories provide a perfect blend of the great use of modern technology and the observation of humanity at its best.
Full of great surprises and a story that inspires appreciation for parent-children relationships, Missing is a good standalone sequel to Searching. With phenomenal performances from the cast, including a standout effort from lead actress Storm Reid, the film is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. This isn’t a film that relies on gimmicks and shock value. Instead, first-time feature directors Johnson and Merrick masterfully craft a story that relies on social media and technology to the benefit of the script. And thanks to a well-framed story and clever structure, everything comes together by the film’s end, revealing the answers from clues that just may have been there the entire time.
Missing releases in theaters January 20. The film is 111 minutes long and rated PG-13 for thematic material related to teen drinking, strong violence, and language.