Directed by Aneesh Chaganty
Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA. August 28, 2018 5:15 PM
"Searching", Aneesh Chaganty’s inventive family drama-thriller, follows in the tradition of "The Blair Witch Project" and the first "Cloverfield" which relies on modern technology and social media to tell it’s story. Every moment of action in the film takes place only through a computer monitor utilizing video chat, photos, streaming video, live blogging and surveillance footage. It's really a remarkable achievement and the film made an impressive splash at this year's Sundance Film Fest and received the NEXT Audience Award. While this parental nightmare of a missing child takes us through this harrowing ordeal with plenty of unnerving suspense and emotional anguish, it fails to keep our attention throughout and offers a resolution that's far from satisfying.
And in this long-standing call for diversity in entertainment, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the importance in the casting of John Cho in the starring role as a desperate father in search of his missing daughter. The actor has been doing outstanding work in largely supporting parts in film and television for a number of years with only a previously co-lead in the 2004 stoner comedy, "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" and the sequels. Here, Cho is finally given the opportunity to really shine as he carries the film, delivering a complex and deeply emotional performance motivated by fear and rage.
The opening scenes introduce us to the Kim family during the era of dial-up internet and MSN Messenger. David (Cho) and Pamela (Sara Sohn) are a young couple in love and soon have a baby they name Margot. We see images of Margot growing up and taking to the piano but tragedy strikes the happy family. Pamela becomes seriously ill and while she fights bravely, sadly loses the battle.
The story moves in to the present day and the advancement of the internet and technology. Margot (Michelle La) is now a high school senior and David is trying to do the best he can as a single father. But he can be controlling and overprotective which causes some tension in their relationship.
One late evening, Margot calls her father several times but he’s fast asleep and doesn’t answer his phone. The next morning, David tries reaching her with no answer. First, he assumes she’s taking her piano lessons only to find out she quit six months ago. Then he remembers that Margot was supposed to go on a school trip only to discover she didn’t show up. As hours go by with no response from his daughter, David becomes more concerned and frightened.
With relative ease, David is able to gain access to his daughter's Facebook, Tumblr and other social media accounts in an attempt to trace her steps. He begins to contact her friends, only to discover that she wasn't as social as it may appear. David soon learns that Margot has been keeping many secrets from him, some because she's a young woman experimenting in life but also to protect her father from further pain and disappointment.
Margot is now officially a missing person and Detective Rosemary Vick (Debra Messing) has been assigned to the case. David gives what little info he has uncovered to Dt. Vick but he continues his own investigation. The mystery of the whereabouts of Margot builds with several unexpected twists and turns (some ingenious, others not so much) until we reach the tangled conclusion. While there are feeble hints dropped here and there, unfortunately, "Searching" follows in the frustrating trend in current thrillers to have the least likely person be involved in the crime without any real clues revealed throughout the film until that caught person explains their involvement in long-winded detail.
What makes "Searching" such an intriguing effort is the outstanding, innovative work from first-time filmmaker, Mr. Chaganty and that it offers Mr. Cho a long overdue leading role in a Hollywood feature film. However, under closer scrutiny, the story doesn't hold up very well. There were too many moments that felt repetitive and common sense took a backseat to serve this narrative method. Finally, if you remove the admittedly clever gimmick from the movie, what you have left is a fairly routine and unconvincing thriller.
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