Amazon.com: Searching [Blu-ray] : John Cho, Debra Messing, Joseph Lee, Michelle La, Aneesh Chaganty, Sev Ohanian, Adam Sidman, Timur Bekmambetov, Natalie Qasabian, Bazelevs Production: Movies & TV

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• 5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece in writing and execution

  Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2023

  If you liked Missing, you’ll love this, and of course if you like this, you’ll love Missing. They follow the same patterns of searching for clues online and nothing is what it seems. They are both the kind of movie you watch twice in a row, once to experience the story, the second time with the benefit of hindsight to see the clues for what they really are. There are a few that should have been clearly false, based on other information that came earlier (a thing related to her allowance, it will make sense at the time).

  At its most basic, this is the story of a girl who’s gone missing. Her father and the police try to find her, and her dad tries to follow the digital trail. All mysteries have a good supply of red herrings, but these are so perfect, so misinterpreted and re-misinterpreted and so organic to the story it’s masterful.

  Stylistically, I liked the grainy SD segments where we’re watching the events through an in-story low-grade camera. It was both more immersive (it should have looked like that) and yet it called attention to itself because SD is so far in our collective rear view.

  As we dig deeper into the story, no one and nothing is what it first seems. The narrative style is such that only a little information comes through at a time and it keeps the viewer delightfully off balance the entire time. The most insignificant details mean so much at the end.

  It hits some beautiful points with social media where everyone is wearing a mask, either to get attention or to hide an ugly soul behind, and in one case to capitalize on the father’s tragedy. It hits some beautiful points as well. Emotionally, this is a roller coaster.

  Watch this with friends who are game to pause the video and check the details on the screen. There is so much that flies right by. It’s brilliant.

  The only thing I don’t like, is that so many details happen visually, and this movie requires such close attention, it’s a poor choice to watch while knitting.

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• 4.0 out of 5 stars The Visual Presentation: Annoying, But Realistic - Must See Movie!

  Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2020

  Searching is a 2018 American mystery thriller film directed by Aneesh Chaganty in his feature debut and written by Chaganty and Sev Ohanian. Set entirely on computer screens and smartphones, the film follows a father (John Cho) trying to find his missing 16-year-old daughter (Michelle La) with the help of a police detective (Debra Messing).

  After the trailer for this film, I was a little curious to know how an emotional investment would be pulled from the audience for the characters in this film; it's a pretty cut-and-dry film about a person that goes missing, and as serious as this can be - it's been done a million times before. With THAT said, the first half hour of the movie includes a brief synopsis of the characters' lives (including the passing of one significant character) and their relationships with one another. This happens rather quickly (and isn't done via flashbacks, like in some films) but I think this is to be expected given the straight forward nature of this film.

  On THAT NOTE -
  okay, I get it, staring at what looks like a computer screen for an hour and a half can be a little daunting. The benefits of this films' visual presentation, however, far outweigh the negative. First Of all, this is an excellent way to make sure the audience is receiving information at the same rate and in the same way as the father in this film; it's supposed to frustrate you, and if it doesn't frustrate you, are you really absorbing the story at hand about an adult that is searching for their CHILD???? Outside of this film alone, this is also an insightful experience for individuals that aren't very social media or tech savvy. Lots of people - children included - spend a majority of their time online and have their whole lives on display for the whole world to see. Regardless of how "annoying" people might say the structure of this film is - the cold hard fact is that it's realistic, and I can't complain much about that.

  The plot twist in this film is one you can only expect in hindsight. Not only that, but there are moments integrated in where it feels like a truth or evidence has been found and it gets ripped out from underneath the viewers' feet. Again - this is a great way to keep the audience engaged and make them empathize with David. If I had any suggestion that would have made this film any better - I would have loved for there to be a small montage of clues here-and-there that would have reflected back on moments that actually happened in the film; in other words, I would have liked knowing that there were clues hidden within the movie during the actual investigation that the audience may have missed that can suddenly be "pieced together".

  None-the-less, this was a well made film about a very serious topic that will keep you guessing until the last second.
  I would recommend!

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• 5.0 out of 5 stars Searching for a Thrilling Mystery? Look no Further than 'Searching'

  Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2023

  If you're in the mood for a gripping mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat, 'Searching' on Blu-ray is the perfect choice. This film is a masterclass in suspense, weaving a complex and twisty narrative that will keep you guessing until the very end.

  The movie follows the story of David Kim, a widowed father whose daughter goes missing. The entire film takes place on screens - computer monitors, cell phones, and security cameras - giving the movie a unique visual style that's both immersive and compelling. The film is essentially a high-tech thriller that takes place entirely in the digital realm, and it's executed flawlessly.

  John Cho delivers a powerful performance as David, and the rest of the cast is equally impressive. The film's pacing is perfect, slowly unraveling the mystery and building tension with each passing minute. The script is also top-notch, full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.

  One of the standout features of this Blu-ray release is the special features. The commentary track is especially insightful, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film. The bonus features also include deleted scenes and featurettes that delve deeper into the movie's production.

  Overall, 'Searching' on Blu-ray is a must-watch for fans of mystery and suspense. The film is expertly crafted, with a top-notch cast, a gripping story, and a unique visual style that sets it apart from other thrillers. The special features on the Blu-ray release only add to the experience, making this a must-have for any movie lover's collection.