It’s been a while since the 2018 film ‘Searching’ came out, in-fact I saw it in on Amazon Prime two years ago. So why review it now? Because the thriller is now available to stream on Netflix and is worth a watch. So this is really a more of a ‘movie recommendation’ write-up, than a review. Which is why it’s also going to be quick.
Directed by Aneesh Chaganty, the film is about a father desperately trying to piece together clues to track down his missing daughter. Actor John Cho plays David Kim, a strong-willed unrelenting father, who refuses to believe that his teen daughter deliberately disappeared to lead a new life; because that’s what the cops seem to believe from circumstantial evidence. How David goes about piecing-together clues to crack the case forms the rest of the story.
What makes ‘Searching’ stand-out, is the fact that most of the movie unfolds on a laptop screen – through chats, videos, cctv footage, video calls and what not. And even though it’s not the first time a film-maker has tried this, Chaganty and team are able to pull it off quite well. There are a few slow moments, and it’s not like those mystery-thrillers that will have you on the edge of your seat, and yet, most viewers will find themselves invested in Daniel’s search for his lost daughter.
It’s a 7.5/10 from me. If you are looking for a thriller to watch, stream it on Netflix. It’s no longer available on Amazon Prime.
Subscribe to our podcast on YouTube by the same name – Abstract AF
Listen to episode 52 for a ‘book vs series’ comparison of ‘The Haunting of Hill House’