Screenlife films are somewhat of a rarity, not only because they rely on a very specific form of storytelling, but also because there simply aren’t many films in this genre. Perhaps the two most recognizable are “Searching” and its later standalone sequel “Missing,” both of which unfold entirely through a screen as the protagonist investigates a disappearance. It’s a unique format, especially when used to craft a tense mystery thriller.
Conveniently, the two films have since swapped streaming homes, with “Searching” now on Netflix and “Missing” now available on Prime Video. While both are great movies, I do have a slight preference for “Searching,” given it never strays into dramatics, and the success of the film rests almost entirely on the shoulders of John Cho, who gives a deeply moving performance full of manic parental desperation, fear, and grief as a father trying to find his daughter. Plus, the film turns everyday consumer technology into a source of deep, atmospheric dread.
