Searching

To the general public, Searching probably looks like a forgettable thriller starring that guy from Harold & Kumar. 

To critics, it looks like a gimmicky attempt to create a low-budget film with probably little regard to actual quality. 

Luckily, and surprisingly, both groups are totally wrong. 

I found it to be one of the most pleasant surprises of the year because, after the single trailer I saw for it, I pretty much wrote it off. That's a shame for what may happen to its opening weekend, but ultimately a grouping of really strong early reviews indicated to me that this was something more unique that I was being led to believe. 

Told entirely from behind a "screen" (computer, phone, etc.), it plays similarly to a handful of these "desktop horror" (copyright pending) films that are fairly gimmicky. Given that computers are an everyday part of all our lives, I find it hard to say that this film may not "be for everyone" and it sets itself apart with some actual clever film making of the approach.

The end result is a surprisingly touching, but gripping thriller that continues to unravel and unravel with some fantastic pacing. 

Searching immediately grips you with an opening 10 minutes that I can really only compare to Pixar's Up. It's equal parts cute and tragic and with this simple opening, you can tell that this could be something special. Even though everything is happening on a computer screen, there's a certain finesse to its editing, organization of even the most mundane tasks (creating folders to save pictures), and a fantastic original score to boot. Within that 10 minutes I was [oddly] transported and definitely hooked. 

The film that follows maintains a lot of the high you get from the fantastic opening, with very little that I took issue with. As is the case with all of these films, it sometimes feels like it's reaching to put the events on a computer screen; though admittedly it also finds clever ways around that by editing the film to where you don't necessarily go through every little detail. In the middle it slogs just ever so slightly for about 5 minutes as you feel like the case should be ramping up, but John Cho's David Kim is still sitting behind a computer screen...ahem...searching. The ending is also just a tad preposterous, but in equal parts doesn't feel like it totally comes out of left field. 

Dude's got way too many tabs open!

Otherwise? Searching is likely to be one of the more memorable and unique experiences you have at the movies this year. John Cho was a perfect choice as a protective, but distant father and he's become a really strong actor over the years. The mystery continues to unravel, and other than the smallest slight drag in the middle, it keeps a rigorous pace towards its conclusion. I also enjoyed the things that Searching has to say about the internet. Some are funny (comments sections), some are sobering (how easy it is to find someone), and some are tragic (comments sections again). It has some very subtle commentary -- often without any words -- on today's utter dependence on technology and online behavior and without going fully political or opinion-oriented, it presents its realistic internet moments and moves on, letting the viewer recognize the moment as one you've seen actually happen outside of this film. Expertly, there are also some moments of laughter sprinkled throughout that are both perfect in quantity and timing. 

"They're out of White Castle burgers?"
[starts sobbing]

Searching is also a technically awesome film. While I'm sure it was cheap as dirt to make, there's some great filmmaking on hand here. There are subtle touches to make it feel like you're really "in" (more like observing) the computer and, as I mentioned earlier, clever uses to get us from one scene to the next. Navigating the screen is the perfect speed: fast enough to where it doesn't feel like we're watching someone inept, but slow enough to where we can make connections ourselves. Almost as surprising as the film itself is how powerful the original score is. Flexing from touching symphony in emotional moments to synth beats common with thrillers, the music is perhaps one of the biggest reasons that Searching continuously feels exciting despite the fact that you're staring at a computer screen.

I imagine there could be a lot of copycat films if Searching is successful, which I truly hope it is. Whether or not lightning could strike twice with a film like this, I'm uncertain, but Searching truly throws down the gauntlet when it comes to this microscopic "desktop" genre (again, copyright pending). It's a smart, quality made film that balances any internet commentary it may have with a emotional thriller. 

CONS

• Drags ever-so-slightly in the middle
• Seems to reach a bit to keep all of it "on-screen"
• I enjoyed the ending, but it was a bit preposterous
• I don't take points away for this, but I think this is only a one-time view once you know the mystery

PROS

• Great casting and performance from John Cho
• An opening that I can sincerely only compare to Up will immediately hook you
• Unique format lends itself to not only a special movie-going experience, but also some subtle and expertly-inserted commentary on the internet
• Commentary also extends to our dependence on tech and the internet 
• Minimal, but perfectly inserted humor
• Thrilling pacing coupled with some clever editing and use of the computer make this a very quick 102 minutes
• Touching and pulsing original score may be the secret star here -- it's one of the most effective of the year
• A surprising, effective, and taut thriller that could be one of your favorite movie-going experiences of the year

Rath's Review Score | 8.5/10