#SheReviews Film: Missing

February 27, 2023

Sony Pictures releases in cinemas MISSING, the stand alone sequel to the 2018 SEARCHING movie. There is no need to see the first they have separate story lines.  

This action fast-paced thriller has many edge-of-your seat moments when it necessitated me to peep through my squinted eyes. There are plenty of twists, turns, ups, downs and sideways moments to hold your attention to the very end.   

I found it intriguing, somewhat concerning, the reality of how exposed we are to being scrutinised and monitored by information technology.  With the use of social media and the massive array of digital tools available, the storyline conveyed how possible it is for anyone to find information on others when put to the test. Privacy protection basically goes out the window. It was a good film just for this reason, although I thoroughly enjoyed the fascinating turn of events and film overall.   

MISSING is charged with hair-raising moments. A thriller to entertain you from beginning to end.  The ending may come as a surprise to viewers. We were taken on a merry-go-round of potential perpetrators that kept me guessing or changing my mind.  

The Story

Is based around teenager June Allen whose mother Grace has disappeared while on vacation in Colombia along with her new boyfriend, Kevin.

June has spent years dealing with the loss of her deceased father James, who according to her mother died from a brain tumour, and is reluctant to accept her mother’s new beau. While on holidays Grace’s mothers close friend Heather, a divorce lawyer, has been nominated to oversee June while her mother is away. 

Rebellious June throws a house party in defiance to her mother’s instructions and goes into a panic when she realises she is due to pick up her mother, the house is in disarray. Finally, June reaches the airport to greet her mother and Kevin, but becomes concerned when they don’t show up as planned. This is where the mystery begins!

June eventually contacts the FBI as something is not right. Frustrated by their lack of progress young June jumps in and begins her own search by using a variety of digital tools to track her mother’s location. By use of Facebook, internet history searches, emails and other IT tools she uncovers secrets and unanswered questions. She ends up hiring an online independent Columbian contractor to carry out local investigations on her behalf. For a small fee he digs up evidence of something fishy going on and that Kevin is not who he seems to be. Nor her mother. June is relentless in her search and soon discovers there is more than meets the eye when she accesses the online dating profiles of Kevin and her mother, including live security camera recordings.

Eventually FBI agent Elijah Park finds video footage of her mother and Kevin being kidnapped and her mother’s case makes national headlines.  The plot develops even further with a number of OMG moments that make you squirm in your seat. June’s luck runs out when she herself is endangered. But I cannot say what happens next. I don’t want to spoil your fun! 

Cast

Writer Directors: Will Merrick, Nick Johnson

Producers & Screenwriters: Sev Ohanian, Aneesh Chaganty, Natalie Qasabian

Actors: Storm Reid (June), Ken Leung (Kevin), Nia Long (Grace), Joaquim de Almeida (Javier), Daniel Hennery (Agent Park), Amy Landecker (Heather), Tim Griffin (James), Michale Segovia (Angel), Megan Suri (Veena). 

In cinemas 23 February 2023

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