Searching – Budget Unknown – 1 hour and 42 minutes

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David Kim sits at home and watches videos of his daughter Margot and his late wife Pam throughout the years.  Later he calls Margot to find out when she is coming home and chastises her for not taking out the trash.  Then he gets a call from his brother Peter to ask about Pam’s recipe.  During the night, Margot attempts to call him twice and FaceTime him once.  He misses all 3 calls.  The next morning he attempts calling and texting all day long but to no avail.  He finds some relief when he learns that Margot was invited on a camping trip with little to no cell reception with Isaac and friends.  However, that relief is short-lived when Isaac calls and says Margot never went on the trip.  Now David is faced with the horrific reality that Margot is missing.  He files a missing person report and Det. Rosemary Vicks is assigned to the case.  She says they can handle the groundwork but he can help by talking to all of Margot friends and looking at her online presence.  David remembers Margot left her laptop at home and starts a search that will lead him to wonder: what is the definition of “friend” today, can anyone be trusted, and did he really know Margot?

This story is told through the everyday screens we use like Unfriended (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  However, Searching drives its viewer to have more emotional responses.    You will laugh, be genuinely concerned, and fill a pit in your stomach throughout this entire movie.  With so many screens in front of us, this movie proves we never really see each other.   Searching uses old technology to show Margot growing up and losing her mother.  And as you watch Margot grow up, the technology changes and gets better.  Within the first 5 minutes, you have an emotional connection to Margot through pictures, videos, and calendar posts.  So when she goes missing, you are worried for her safety.  You see the hurt, confusion, and panic on her father’s face as he looks through her contacts and calls the people she “friended” on Facebook.  You get pulled in and want to know what happened to her.  And like life, there are a lot of close calls that lead to more unanswered questions.  These unanswered questions provide the twist and turns that make this movie a thrilling mystery.  You won’t see this coming.  Searching is a great summer thriller that will gain a cult following.

4.5 out of 5 stars

You don’t always know your kids. And that’s not your fault – Det. Rosemary

Where is my daughter – David

I’m about to get in trouble, aren’t I – Margot

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