Searching Review
Myla Tosatto
Searching is something that we haven’t seen on the big screen yet. However, the entire movie takes place on a screen. A computer screen, a TV screen, a phone screen. . . It’s very clever. It’s also very nerve wracking. Cleverly nerve wracking. Did I just invent a new movie genre? Okay, maybe that honor should go to director Aneesh Chaganty and his co writer, Sev Ohanian.
As viewed through old photos and videos on the computer, we witness the idyllic life of David Kim (John Cho), his wife Sara (Pamela Nam Kim) and their daughter Margot (Alex Jayne Go, Megan Liu, Kya Dawn Lau and Michelle La at different stages). Then BOOM, life becomes less picturesque and lonelier for David and high school age Margot. Margot goes missing. While searching through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and You Cast, David realizes that he doesn’t know his daughter at all. It turns out, nobody does.
David finds help in Detective Vick (Debra Messing), a single mother who understands the importance of parenthood. Together they race the clock to find Margot. There are many twists, turns, red herrings, catfishes and FaceTime calls. It’s a suspense mystery for the modern ages!
It’s also a lesson in parenting. How much is too much? Is being a helicopter the right thing? Do we protect our kids to the point of not letting them face the consequences? How much independence should they have? Like I said, it’s a tale for right now. As a parent, you should see this movie and you might even learn from it.
Searching is now playing in theaters!