Review Ala Kadarnya: Searching

Amira Khanifah
Sep 4, 2018 · 5 min read

One wrong move, and this movie will turn into just another missing person thriller that you can watch every other time on Lifetime channel. Gladly, this movie did an excellent job in delivering such a simple premise through a clever conceit. First-time filmmaker and former Google commercials creator Aneesh Chaganty successfully delivered the thriller that was framed entirely on electronic screens — laptops, cell phones, even security cameras. This approach will feel gimmicky but turns out, Searching is one of the most clever, effective and best thriller I’ve ever watched so far. It keeps the clues and twists coming thick and fast.

Margot and David

The plot is rather simple. A desperate father, David Kim (John Cho) jumps into the search for his missing 16-year-old daughter Margot (Michelle La), who vanished after supposedly studying with friends. Everything unravels as he hacks into her Instagram, Facebook and iPhone accounts to sort out clues; and find out things he never thought he would find about a daughter he knew. And everything we see is on the kind of screen that is visualizing David’s frantic search.

John Cho is remarkable in this movie. (source: kincir.com)

John Cho is simply the heart and soul of this movie. He delivered a tremendous range of emotions thru laptop screens the whole time without being exaggerated. Showing what’s logical, normal people would react on that type of situation and we can relate to him. He did an Oscar-worthy performance since during 80% of the movie, this is basically a one-man show; and he did this seamlessly without arrogance and unnecessary bravado. Despite the static nature of the computer screen (which, honestly, what I was afraid of: the movie is going to be a bit of a snooze-fest) through handheld FaceTime chats as David runs through dark woods, or urgently cut news footage on a YouTube clip, or the camera’s eye sweeping around the screen picking up details; Chaganty, through John, able to show the dynamic that keeps us on the edge of our seats throughout the movie.

(source: screenrant.com)

Other than the way the movie being delivered, I guess what strikes me the most was the core of this movie: the length parents would do for their kids. As a parent, I can relate to this so much and find out that perhaps I must check if my approach in raising my kids are okay and if I able to see the fine lines that can make or break them. And this is a never-ending journey for me: to continuously learning as a parent. Understand that love can be a double-edged sword (even your love as a parent). And just like love, social media is also a double-edged sword. It gives an opportunity to express ourselves and a chance to hide our true selves from others. And in this narrative, the movie-goers were able to see that social media gave you both problems and solutions in your life. You just have to work your way around wisely.

(source: landmarkcinemas.com)

My favorite scene would be where David create a spread-sheet to check Margot’s friends’ alibis and create a time-frame of Margot disappearance. It’s so methodical and, again, me as a parent can totally relate with this. First act of the movie was perfect. In the opening ten minutes, Chaganty gave us Margot’s entire childhood on a computer screen. We saw saved photos of her first day in each school grade, her parents beaming behind her; video clips of piano lessons with her mom and playing with dad; then her mom’s Google search for fighting lymphoma; emails about remission then relapse; a calendar with the note “mom comes home!” moved later and later, until it’s deleted. You can’t deny it, it feels like a less cute version of the opening of Up. Towards second act, the tension was impeccably built. We have this personal journey with David, identifying all the information he has which lead to the false and eventually right path in finding his daughter.

The third act felt a bit weaker compared to the previous two. On the last one-third part of the movie, we’re finally able to see the resolution, but there’s minor inconsistency there. Towards the very end, you might think, “okay, we’ve been seeing everything through David’s and Margot’s computer screens — but how their computers have the access to these things?”

Aneesh Chaganty and Debra Messing (source: Boston Herald)

But that’s just minor. It’s me, nitpicking small small stuff that won’t affect the whole story — and doesn’t make this movie any less good. While the narrative delivered through screencast, the movie doesn’t feel claustrophobic. The movie is expanding out of the universe while staying true to the whole screencast “gimmick”. This is not the John Cho you know from Harold & Kumar films. He has shown layers and depths. And I can’t wait to see what’s Chaganty next project. If his first one is this amazing, then count me in on whatever he has for the future.

Last one. Photo of John Cho looking so fine. Because, why not?

Rate: 9.5/10

Jakarta-based. Mom of two. Freelance writer and market researcher. Have unhealthy obsession towards James McAvoy. Email me: amirakhanifah24@gmail.com

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