[usr 4]
After his 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a desperate father breaks into her laptop to look for clues to find her.
When the trend of films being shot from the computer desktop perspective started, I was not all for it, however, this year I find myself changing my mind. With the release of “Unfriended: Dark Web” earlier this year and now “Searching,” I can confidently say that this style is a new hit thing, or maybe the modern found footage film for the digital age. I find that this style brings a familiarity and intimacy for the modern age. It’s great to see that this style has grown up into such a unique voice in modern film.
I must say, “Searching” does so much right. From casting John Cho, a man who is commonly known for his comedic chops in “Harold and Kumar” or as Sulu in the modern “Star Trek” films, it is so great to see him in a leading man role, showing off how great of an actor he really is. He embodies the lengths at which a parent would go to find their own child. I truly am so impressed by his performance and can confidently say it is one the best I have seen this year thus far.
From start to finish, I was glued to the screen. This film never lost my interest, I think it just hits that hard. What I found so impressive about this, is how it hit me on an emotional level. I found myself sitting in this theater thinking, “Man, I really want to talk to my parents right now.” It has that effect in my opinion and just makes you question how you talk and treat your parents. Making you question how you last left things with them, I found that to be incredibly endearing, it’s pretty special. For a thriller to hit an emotional chord like that it just left me wanting to be a better son.
“Searching” is an engaging film, that leaves you glued to the screen from start to finish, and is led by amazing performances. It is a film that has helped progress the computer desktop perspective films so I hope that this continues a progression in this sub-genre. Do yourself a favor and check out this movie, you will not regret it.
Available on Blu-ray™ and DVD November 27th
