Searching Review

PG-13: Thematic content, some drug and sexual references, and for language

Screen Gems, Bazelevs Company, Stage 6 Films

Dir: Aneesh Chaganty | Writer: Aneesh Chanty, Sev Ohanian

Cast: John Cho, Debra Messing, Michelle La

From the studio that already brought you a thriller/mystery presented mostly through multiple computer screens literally a month ago with “Unfriended: Dark Web” comes another thriller/mystery film set online, but this one is actually far superior. Dare I say, it may be the best movie that takes place during the digital age.

After David Kim (John Cho)'s 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a local investigation is opened and a detective is assigned to the case. But 37 hours later and without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept today: his daughter's laptop. In a hyper-modern thriller told via the technology devices we use every day to communicate, David must trace his daughter's digital footprints before she disappears forever.

THE GOOD

Wow, that “MILF” guy from “American Pie" has come a long way in his career. After the many comedies John Cho has starred in, it is refreshing to see him branch out and do more dramatic roles, primarily in indie films. Earlier this year, Cho had a small role in the noir thriller “Gemini” where he played a cop, and last year in “Columbus” alongside Haley Lu Richardson. For the past two years, he’s had a hot streak in his career shift as he’s delved more into dramas; “Searching” is a continuation of that hot streak. While the film is presented through every form of modern day digital technology, John Cho is the carrier through and through. Cho’s character David Kim is a dad who is distant with his kid, so when she goes missing, he actively does everything in his power to get her back home. He embodies all of the characteristics of a parent who should be concerned with their missing family member. I didn’t get that from Ben Affleck in “Gone Girl” when his wife disappeared. He lets his emotions get the best of him, but it’s never seen as a flaw because these are the actions one would take in order to find their daughter. Even when his actions ruin his image during the time of this investigation, you understand where he’s coming from. He is the audiences’ avatar where with each step he takes to find his daughter, you’re along with him. Cho honestly gives one of the best performances of the year.

Unlike most mystery movies where you’re able to predict who done it, “Searching” has you constantly guessing from beginning to end. From a narrative standpoint, you can clearly tell that writers Sev Ohanian & Aneesh Chaganty wanted to make sure that the mystery was detailed enough with well-placed clues and amazing foreshadowing that keep you at the edge of your seat the entire time. It utilizes each screen to its advantage as we see every angle, nook, and cranny as we watch David try to find his daughter.

The film is presented through every technological digital screen and, for the first time, it doesn’t feel like a gimmick, but rather refreshing. Besides having the story shown through a Mac screen, you also watch it unfold through Windows, iPhones, Androids, video cameras, and every app and application possible. It works because they’re all used as a means to progress the narrative. The apps used don’t feel anywhere close to product placements as they’re presented to help David find clues of his daughter's disappearance, help him organize his ideas, and (surprisingly) capture emotions. The film starts incredibly strong as it has the same emotional beats of a Disney film that actually captures some feeling. From there, most of the emotional beats that you’re supposed to feel are developed through text messages, and it works. You resonate with the Kim family and understand how distant Margot and David are because of how creative and tragic the opening montage is.

THE BAD

There are really three main cast members featured, and the weakest link who kind of brings some of the intensity down is Debra Messing who plays this detective aiding David in the search for Margot. Messing is a good actress, but delivers a really stale performance here. The writers give her great dialogue that kind of sticks with you, but some of her deliveries are really bad. Her bad performance kind of takes you out of the movie at times. She starts off relatively strong, but as she becomes more serious and her voice raises, she’s reminiscent of the lame type of stereotypical officers you see on an ABC cop drama.

LAST STATEMENT

With a refreshing perspective to its genre and a gratifying performance by John Cho, “Searching” is an unnerving and relentlessly tense mystery/thriller that proves that digital usage can be utilized to tell well-written stories.

Rating: 4/5 | 87%

Super Scene: David's discovery