Searching

The idea may not be so original anymore, but it is still used to the max; the film has real momentum and the viewers feel that they are searching along with the main character. I was expecting an unexpected twist, although I had no idea what it would be, but I'm glad for the ending because I probably wouldn't have wanted to see it end any other way. The only thing that disturbed me a bit was the music: although it was good, it brought down the feeling of authenticity. (05/21/2020)

Everything around us needs to keep up with the times, and this certainly applies to cinema as well. Searching is not just an ordinary detective story; it presents a truly unconventional viewing experience through a computer screen. Initially, it felt like a failed Canadian prank, but it has its own charm. It makes one realize how interconnected today’s world is through the internet and social networks, along with the associated potential threats. I must commend the lead actor's performance; throughout the film, the viewer only sees his face, so it’s immediately clear whether he’s overacting or not. However, John Cho’s brilliant performance quickly dispelled that concern. Despite the fact that the audience only views computer screens, the story offers a series of luxurious twists that had me on the edge of my seat, one after another (especially the first twist was a real knockout, wow…). I would have fine-tuned the ending a bit differently, but that doesn’t take away from the undeniable qualities of this intriguing film. I give it 83%. (01/25/2019)

Interesting experiment. Formally, it’s very good, even though the tone is quite ambiguous and the revelation of the mystery perhaps is too wannabe shocking. But as a portrayal of the stupid social networks and their users (yeah, I’m one of them), and the social numbness of today, It’s certainly effective and realistic. (11/21/2018)

John Cho finds out that his daughter is missing and now he tries to find her with the help of the police. A rather ordinary plot? Maybe, but The Search is definitely not an ordinary movie. The fact that it's shot entirely on cell phone or computer cameras, and we see what's happening on a laptop screen instead of a traditional manhunt, makes it something a little different. And it works surprisingly well in the thriller genre. The Search is an interesting, but above all suspenseful and cleverly conceived film that you definitely shouldn't miss. (02/15/2019)

This is an interesting concept that I have not seen before. I get that it is not groundbreaking, but so far I have not had the honor of seeing it, so the idea itself impressed me more than it probably deserves. I was discouraged by the annoyingly melodramatic music, which seemed to come from East Asian films, where sweet sentiment is often mixed with brutal aestheticized violence. However, I was much more bothered by the incompleteness of the screenplay, which relies too much on form and does not address inconsistencies and incredible errors (would the police really work like this?). Even the literalness and typically studio ending didn't excite me. It does not help that the film loses its filmmaker's touch primarily in the second half instead of making the impressive climax helps us forget the weaker moments at the beginning. Despite all the previous complaining, however, Searching earns a decent three stars. Overall impression: 60%. (06/27/2019)