“Missing” is the latest tech thriller starring Storm Reid and Nia Long, and it’s a fantastic January film.
In the film, Reid’s character June looks for her mother, who vanished on holiday with her boyfriend.
While the premise is familiar, the execution is anything but.
You experience the movie mainly through phone and computer screens, similar to the movie’s 2018 predecessor, “Searching.”
In “Searching,” John Cho plays a father looking for his missing 16-year-old daughter.
The film also took place entirely on screens, and it made history as the first Hollywood thriller with an Asian American as the lead.
How “Missing” Works
With the evolution of tech, most of us are glued to our screens for several hours each day.
“Missing” shows a screen-first perspective as we get an over-the-shoulder view of Reid’s character, June, looking at messages, online articles, and videos.
As her investigation deepens when she tries to save her mom, June’s detective work results in more questions than answers.
Storm Reid Found The Technology Challenging
Since they filmed the movie through screens, Reid and Nia Long experienced new, distinct challenges.
Reid had to show her acting chops while following different eyelines.
For instance, she had to look up at the screen’s top-right side if her character received a notification.
The experience was fun for both actresses, but it remained a challenge.
There were days when Reid felt entirely confused and lost–she didn’t know where to stand or look.
To understand making the film, Reid rethought how she used technology.
She thought of the different devices and gadgets as characters instead of tools.
Once Reid had that mindset, the filming process became significantly more straightforward.
Rethinking How We Use Tech
Even though “Missing” is fictional, it shows how impactful tech can be.
Instead of using it to pass the time and for entertainment, it can be a helpful tool.
However you think of gadgets, the movie should open your eyes to new possibilities.
