Missing is a thriller-drama movie released in 2023, and is a sequel to Searching, a film directed by Aneesh Chaganty in collaboration with Screen Gems, Stag 6 Films, and Bazelevs Company in 2018. The movie Missing, directed by Nicholas D. Johnson and Will Merrick in collaboration with a similar production house, tells the story of a girl’s experience in search of her mother who has not returned from vacation with her new boyfriend, who may become her step-father.
The plot begins with a screenshot of a computer. The cursor moves back and forth and selects a movie containing a picture of a man and a little girl being together, followed by a video showing a small family on vacation together. Shortly after, the photo is stored in an archive. The story then skips to the present day, where the child in the photo and video has grown into a teenager named June (Storm Reid), often called Junebug by her mother, Grace (Nia Long). June has a history of a poor relationship with her mother, as she does not like Grace being overprotective of her.
One day, Grace decides to go on a long trip with her new boyfriend, Kevin (Ken Leung), to vacation in Colombia. June is not happy about it and chooses to stay at home, have a party with her best friend Veena (Megan Suri), and her other friends. When Grace says goodbye, June is busy chatting with Veena about the party on iMessage and sending money through Venmo to buy alcohol from the emergency fund given by her mother while she’s away. As soon as Kevin and Grace arrive, June only watches from the window. A message appears from Grace, saying ‘I love you.’
Kevin and Grace then leave, and a week passes without any sign of their return. June keeps trying to call and message her mother, but receives no reply. Feeling uneasy, June immediately reports it to Heather (Amy Landecker), a close friend of her mother who has been asked to watch over June while Grace is away. However, despite Heather’s efforts, FBI involvement, and constant attempts to contact her mother, June feels that the authorities are too slow to respond.
What’s worse, June discovers that the CCTV footage at the hotel where her mother and Kevin stayed will be overwritten after 24 hours, leaving her only six hours to retrieve it. June takes matters into her own hands and begins to investigate using various apps and her intelligence. She starts to use Google, Google Maps, Facebook messages, browsing history, and more.
As June continues her investigations, strange things begin to happen, and she discovers secrets about her mother’s past. Soon, June encounters a series of lies and events that were carefully manipulated to cover up the truth about her mother’s disappearance. The plot thickens, leading June to face a series of challenges that put her life in danger.
In the end, the movie resolves with a dramatic conclusion, revealing the truth about what happened to Grace and Kevin. Missing is a movie that explores the themes of technology, family relationships, and the importance of staying vigilant when things don’t seem right. It is an intense thriller-drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
