Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Missing 

This is one of the most smartly written films I’ve seen so far this year! Now this film feels very reminiscent of a great underrated film from a couple years back called Searching. Now their are a ton of movies that are now are doing the POV perspective for their movies the trend really started back in 2014 with unfriended and even though it was a okay narrative the whole ability to tell a film through a Point of view on a laptop was very engaging. Since then it’s stated to become a smart way to tell mystery films such as Searching and now missing. That being said it’s not just a rinse and repeat  of what we saw with Searching as both draw comparisons being POV films that are mystery driven story’s and Missing stands out for its truly amazing writing by Will Merrick & Nicolas D. Johnson who make the film constantly evolving and it’s done in such a smart way when you think it’s going to go on way it pulls a total 360 on you and I love how it kept surprising me at every turn it kept me constantly engaged and respected the incredible writing that went into this story. 

Firstly, As I have already said the writing os truly remarkable in this film as it lured you in with these theories and leads thinking you know what the outcome of the story will be and who the antagonist is but then they will take something the smallest detail from earlier and use it on the audience to show that they have no idea what the ending of this story will be until you arrive at it. It’s truly genius writing I know I keep complimenting the writing of this film and it’s because it’s amazing as they could of used a lot of recycled tropes from previous films like this but they don’t they find creative no ways to bring the audience in and care for the characters we are introduced too and have them hold on for dear life throughout this wild ride and give them a freaking nail biting story that will blow them away and that is achieved outstandingly well. Now since the film is also restricted to the point of view of this daughter they have to create tension and conflict out of whatever comes on her screen. And it does a great job at keeping the audience engaged by the constant evolving narrative happening on her screen as things pop up left right and centre and theirs constant clues leading to where her mom could be and it’s not easy to create a tense film on a laptop but it really takes full advantage of its setting and really captures the sheer anxiety this girl has in her heart if her mom is okay or even alive. The way they really create fantastic tension with something that’s so limiting to create conflict in was truly impressive the film’s big strengths is the fantastic writing at hand along with its great direction. 

Secondly, the performances from the cast are so emotionally captivating. Now their aren’t a ton of actors since a lot of the film is the viewer watching this young girl on a laptop trying to locate her mom so we are very much with Storm Reid who has been getting recognition from her work on the HBO series Euphoria. She delivers such a fantastic performance here as she goes through the ringer emotionally as at first she seems very cocky and a chip on her shoulder kind of attitude but once she learns her moms life is at risk the sheer anxiety she has and drive she shows to find her is both touching and gripping to watch. As if her performance doesn’t work this film falls apart and she keeps you 100% invested in what she’s giving onscreen she truly is incredible in this film. The rest of the cast all give good performances but due to its limited setting it’s very much the Storm read show and she chews up every scene she’s in. Everyone all give solid performances but it is Storm Reid that will draw you in the moment you see her. 

Lastly, Missing is an edge of your seat thriller that will have your jaw firmly on the floor from the well thought out twists and turns that the story takes you. It’s greatly led by Storm Reid in this well crafted pulse pounding story that will have your eyes glued to the screen and characters from start to finish Missing is a thrill ride you don’t want to miss out on. I recommend everyone go see this film 

This film centres on a girl who’s mother goes a trip with her boyfriend and when she does not show up when returning from her trip her daughter goes to any means to find her

Rated PG - 13 : Teen Drinking|Some Strong Violence|Language|Thematic Material

Storm Reid : Storm Reid delivers an incredible performance in this nail biting thriller! Now This  performance she gives is remarkable as her co  stars are very much just on a laptop and she has to sell this performance to the audience because if you don’t buy into her character the film falls apart. As it’s not as if theirs other big supporting characters to invest into she is running the show in terms of the acting for this film. She at first seems very cocky and has a chip on her shoulder with how she is towards her mother but it’s not until her mom’s missing that her mindset changes and we see how much she loves her and the sheer connection she feels with her. The way Storm Reid is able to convey that panic and sheer anxiety in her heart is so captivating to see unfold. Now I’ve seen her in young adult roles but this is the first time I’ve seriously seen her expand her emotional range and my god is she entertaining to watch because as the clock keeps ticking and the window of opportunity of her mother being found becomes more thin you see the sheer heartache in her soul that she won’t stop looking until her mom is found. She won’t sleep, and even will jeopardize her own safety if that’s what gets her mom home and the way Storm was able to tap into that onscreen is truly remarkable. When she speaks in total terror that her mom potentially could be dead you believe each word she says as you can hear the shakiness in her voice and the sheer vulnerability in her eyes. She grabs you the moment the film starts with her fantastic onscreen presence and she drives her performance with such emotional intensity and incredible charismatic energy that you cannot look away. Storm Reid shows that she can be put in the leading role of a film such as this and truly blow you away with what she gives of her heart onscreen a truly amazing performance and I hope to see her in more roles like this as she has proven here very strongly that she has fantastic range. 

Nicolas D. Johnson & Will Merrick : Nicolas and Will have presented another solid nail biting thriller that’s greatly crafted! Now Missing comes from the same creative minds as the 2018 film searching which a lot of people will compare similarities too due to the format that this film is done is incredibly similar to that film. Now as their may be some things that are cut from the same cloth of that searching what they bring to missing for the most part is all original well written thrills that will have you engaged from the start to the very end. As this film takes again the format of telling its entire story from the perspective of a girl on her laptop the amazing talent Nicolas and Will have to create fantastic tension and conflict in such a limited setting really drew me in. As we are following the story of this girl who has a very strained relationship with her mother but it’s not until she isn’t coming home we see the sheer love she has for her mom but also the winding and twisted road of what lies ahead of if she’s missing or if she’s dead. As the viewer when you think it’s going to go on way and you think you know the outcome of the story the directors pull the rug out from you and it’s constantly evolving twist after twist and now it’s done in a way that makes sense and isn’t just for thinking that they outsmarted the viewer. As what’s so great about Missing compared to searching was that searching was told from the perspective of the dad where here it’s the daughter and how she uses her resources best she can to locate her mother and the third act of this film is truly one of the most tense third acts I’ve seen in a thriller this year as the film is constantly building up in Tension and your given all the pieces of what the outcome can be and once everything clicks together its such a oh my god moment of realization. Now the filmmakers did such a good job at keeping the viewer interested In the story at hand from always having constant chaos or uncertainty of where the mom could be keeping the viewer guessing and also getting a solid performance from their lead storm Knight. The film truly captures the anxiety and sheer terror of what it would be like if you didn’t know where a parent was and the incredible lengths you’d go to find them and it’s presented in a pulse pounding fantastically twist and turns story that will have you wanting to see it again once it’s over Nicolas and Will did a great job at revisiting a genre that may be familiar but found a way to keep it fresh and exciting with a truly memorable story.