At the beginning of the film, we were introduced to David Kim’s family through a montage sets the mood of the film. It makes you root for this family. For this father who lost his wife to cancer and for the daughter that was left behind.
And when said daughter has gone missing, David tried every avenue to locate her including tracking her daughter’s online footprints and this is where the film got that thriller film that it’s almost maniacal at times, like your solving the case with David. I enjoyed Aneesh Shaganty’s way of telling the story via the screens of each gadget used in the film. This is how you make use of these ‘millennial’ stuff properly in a movie, if I may say so.
It is like a puzzle or a computer game with levels-up and it makes you thoroughly involved in it. I know I was trying to guess a twist midway through the film and it actually did not disappoint. It was a bit debatable but it feels new, it feels fresh. It helps that by this time, you’d already be emotionally invested.
Searching is masterfully crafted in a way that the technologies that shared the focal point of the film were balanced out by the sheer emotion behind the main story line. I’d definitely recommend this film especially if you’re looking for a good thriller with modern twists.
Director: Aneesh Shaganty
Cast: John Cho, Debra Messing, Michelle La
The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2018.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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