Film Review: Searching (2018)

~ beetleypete

I was looking for something to watch the other night, and saw this was showing on a film channel, Film 4. I went online and read two reviews, deciding it seemed to be worth watching.

And it was.

**No spoliers**

For one thing, I didn’t really recognise any of the cast. And there was something else. With very few exceptions for some scenes, the whole film is played out on computer screens, smartphone screens, television screens, and over telephone calls. It feels right up to date, with characters communicating by text message, and on other messaging platforms. Switching between screens to check maps, with many different screens often displayed at the same time. Face-time conversations, video calling, and so many other things all too familiar in this modern world.

Please don’t let that put you off. It works, and works very well. All the images and texts are clear, easy to read, and not at all confusing. And it creates a feeling of helplessness and tension that would not have worked nearly so well in a conventional format.

The Kim family is an American/Korean family doing well in California. David and Pamela have good jobs, their daughter Margot is talented, and shows promise as a pianist. But tragedy strikes (early in the film) when Pamela is struck down with terminal cancer, leaving David to bring up his daughter on his own.

He makes the best of it, and is a loving and caring father to Margot. He allows her some freedoms, but also continues to nurture her piano talent, and provide a safe and comfortable home for his daughter. One day, she calls him to say she is staying over with a group of friends at study group, as they need to work on their school project. David tells her to call him the next day.

But she doesn’t. And she doesn’t answer his calls either. He is soon very worried, and contacts the police. Fortunately, the case is assigned to missing persons specialist, Sergeant Rosemary Vick. She is dogged and determined, and promises to find his daughter. Meanwhile, David takes to social media and technology to help. He gets into Margot’s Facebook, Laptop, Messages, bank records, and everything else she has been using.

And in the process, he discovers that he hardly knew anything about his daughter at all.

Leaving it there to avoid spoilers, I will add that this is a great little film, and the small budget is never apparent. Tension is highly wound throughout, and almost nothing is what it seems. In the central role of David Kim, John Cho is simply excellent. I completely believed that he was the father of a missing girl. Everyone else in the cast handles their part well, with special mention for Debra Messing, as Sergeant Vick.

BUT WAIT! There’s a delicious twist, one that I didn’t guess at all!

Highly recommended.

Here’s a trailer.

20 thoughts on “Film Review: Searching (2018)”

  4. When I have time to relax, I’m exploring Italian gialli. The latest one I watched is not really a giallo, in my opinion, but it’s sometimes lumped in with the genre: “A Quiet Place to Kill” (1970) with Carroll Baker and Jean Sorel (released as “Paranoia” in Italy). I think my favorite one so far is “The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh” (1971), although “Torso” (1973) was good. For years, I only watched Dario Argento gialli, but recently decided to watch some other masters, like Mario Bava, known for “Black Sunday,” “Blood and Black Lace,” etc.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I have watched some Argento and other director’s films (like Suspiria) in the past, but Giallo is not one of my favourite genres, to be honest. The ‘very fake’ blood, and the fact that they are often dubbed into English here tends to put me off.
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. The dubbing isn’t always very good. Sometimes, I’ll catch one (like “Blood and Black Lace”) which is presented in the original Italian with English subtitles available. As for blood, it usually looks fake, but I don’t mind.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

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