Searching (2018)
2018
PG-13
101 Minutes
After his 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a desperate father breaks into her laptop to look for clues to find her. A thriller that unfolds entirely on computer screens.
User Review
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Searching manages to turn social networking into an emotionally charged twisty thriller. We've seen this style of filmmaking before with 'Unfriended' and, whilst it did work, felt too gimmicky to be taken seriously. Chaganty's directorial debut utilises the same aesthetic appeal and adds a substantial amount of realism to enhance both the emotional investment of its characters and the plot itself. Not to mention the trip down nostalgia lane, I haven't seen Windows XP in years! A father attempts to find his missing daughter by investigating her social networking profiles, with the help of a police detective. The beauty of this thriller is how simplistic it is. No gargantuan set pieces or over-elaborate plots filled with convolution. This is simply a parent's worst nightmare that unfolds through the point-of-view of smartphones and monitors. The realistic yet relatable story immediately absorbs you in. Chaganty ingeniously commences character development from the first screen as we witness this loving family blossoming together. Then, as tragedy strikes, the emotional complexity of the situation beckons you to feel the character's emotions as the theme of parenting remains prevalent throughout. This wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for Cho's nuanced central performance, practically holding the whole film together. As with all thrillers, there are twists and turns to keep you engaged. Whilst I did piece together the mystery before it revealed itself, it was executed with such astute precision and methodical planning that you start to believe you are the one investigating the case. All the clues are present, and Chaganty's subliminal direct address makes the whole experience more enjoyable. After a certain revelation is discovered, the concluding ten minutes unfortunately destroy an intelligent thriller. The constant explanations of foreshadowing detracted from the intellectual narrative and rapidly succumbed to over-explaining. The suspense had dissipated, tension was relieved and motives were overwrought. Borrowdale's score also felt reminiscent of 'The Sims', just too optimistic. Still, an innovative thriller.1 member likes this review.
