Nonureva
Really Surprised!
Supelice
Dreadfully Boring
TrueHello
Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.
Deanna
There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
Han Solo
'Searching' has to be one of the best films I have seen in a while that was a testament to real film-making, and not a CGI-fest.With inspired use of modern technology that the majority of the audience would be familiar with, 'Searching' takes you on a journey through the story of a modern-day family. So well done is this use of technology, that you are mentally and emotionally drawn into the tale, and experience the highs and lows, as well as the tension as the plot develops.'Searching' has a good storyline, which keeps you engaged from beginning to end and stands alone from the film's use of technology. The story and the use of technology to carry the story compliment one another very well.After I saw this movie, I heard many of my fellow movie-goers say to one another, 'That was a good!' And I totally agree!
marklakey
This film was utter dross. I saw this as a preview screening perk perk with my unlimited cinema package. I left the cinema after 40 minutes. If watching someone have text chats, with all the drama of pondering whether to use an exclamation mark or a full stop, (yes, that happens), and look things up on a laptop is your thing, then this is the movie for you. Garbage. Worst film I've (part) seen this year and the first one I've abandoned in ages. I couldn't care less what happened to his daughter, and I couldn't bear any more of the slow paced internet searching.
Ed Cohen
The story is told through the computer contents, social media postings, Skype conversations, surveillance footage etc. of the characters--a high-functioning but not perfect oriental-American family.
The novelty of the technique reminds me of TIMECODE. This time, the novel technique is likely be imitated in documentary film making, if not dramatic film. It is indeed suspenseful and attention holding. I might eventually watch it several times on small screen, to pick up the missed details. The story is beyond improbable: i.e., far-fetched. Definitely not your father's FRESH OFF THE BOAT.
Red-Barracuda
This is a thriller which can certainly be accurately described as original. It takes a fairly typical suspense story about a recently widowed father whose daughter vanishes one night and presents it in a most unique way. The whole film plays out on the computer screen via programs such as Facetime, iMessage, Gmail, Tumblr, Facebook, etc. In this way, it reflects the reality that so many people now live, given that so many nowadays are literally never off their devices. In this way, the film is completely relevant and taps into a scenario most will be able to clearly identify with. The conceit is also terrific in that it accentuates the mystery element of the story, where we stumble upon clues via the various social media platforms. The very limitations of the set-up ultimately amplify the material and take it to another level. I found it to be one of the most original, gripping and compelling thrillers I have seen in quite a while. Lead actor John Cho must be credited too with giving a strong central performance as the grieving father, with some good additional work from Debra Messing as the detective assigned to the case. All-in-all, a fantastic bit of work.
