Wow. I was not expecting this film to blow me away as much as it did. Searching is the story of David (John Cho), whose daughter Margot (Michelle La) mysteriously disappears one night. While the search for Margot continues, David begins a downward spiral as he would do anything to find his daughter. The performances, story, and technical aspects of this film absolutely astounded me as director Aneesh Chaganty delivers one of the most eerily relevant and intense thrillers I have ever seen.
Every part of this movie was perfectly executed: the performances, the writing, the character development, and the way this movie was told were all incredible. John Cho's performance as the father David was surprisingly amazing. Since his comedic Harold & Kumar days, I would never have expected Cho to deliver such a great, dramatic performance. Once his daughter disappeared, his acting chops really came to the surface, as he embodied this distraught and desperate father so well. Detective Vick (Debra Messing) was another very interesting character. Her sly side was prevalent the entire time, being a detective and all, but once she was revealed to be the true antagonist, Messing portrayed her evil very well. The best-developed character relationship, however, has to be between David and Margot. The way they were brought together but simultaneously split apart after the death of their mother Pam (Sara Sohn) was riveting. While they did not have the closest relationship, it was so interesting to see how much this father would go through for his daughter. These strong, parental bonds have always been a very emotional subplot to me no matter what the film, as long as it is done right.
The most compelling and original part of this movie, however, was its creative way of storytelling. Searching is told entirely through screens, whether it be an iPhone, laptop, or news footage on a TV. This technique was so wildly imaginative that I could not take my eyes off the screen. The audience sees David's every move as he is rummaging through the internet trying to solve the mystery of where his daughter went. We see him searching through Google, Facebook, and a plethora of other sites and tools that eventually aid him in finding Margot. Social media was utilized brilliantly in this film, as they actually used relevant websites and services that were realistic to our modern world. There was no pandering to out-of-touch audiences whatsoever, and while that might be a turn-off for a lot of viewers, I thought it was very clever. This was truly a revolutionary type of storytelling, and while it has been used in films like Unfriended, this film perfected the method.
The writing in this film was extraordinary as well, providing an engaging and anxiety-inducing plot. The beginning of the film did feel a bit typical, as there was a montage of exposition explaining how the mother died, but the way it was presented made up for this. Every online lead towards Margot that either David or Detective Vick had in this film was connected in one way or another. All of the plot points tied together beautifully as there were no loose ends at all; everything came full-circle for the story. This made for a very satisfying conclusion because every little detail in this movie played a larger part in the overall story. The multiple twists and turns worked so fluently and there was not a single scene that I felt was unnecessary. As the audience put together the pieces of what really happened to Margot, the tone only built more and more tension. My legs were shaking for at least the last half hour of the film because I was so anxious at what new realization I would come to.
Searching is an excellent example of how modern filmmaking should be. In order to keep the audience's attention in this day and age, films have to bring something fresh to the table and this film definitely does just that. There is no doubt that I will be seeing this breathtaking movie again, and I urge everyone to do the same.
My Rating: ★★★★★
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