Missing

Missing is a thriller that isn’t shy about taking its time; the first half hour or so is basically a drama about a young girl searching for her missing father. The thriller elements do slowly creep their way into the narrative, though it’s hard to deny that the film’s lengthy 124 minute running time might be a bit bloated. There’s certainly nothing wrong with a thriller that takes its time to establish its characters; the biggest issue here is the way the film often holds back key information in the service of its twist-heavy second half (which, admittedly, is fun). This makes the slower first half less impactful than it should have been, with a lower-key sensibility that isn’t even remotely as effective as the twisty fun that follows.

**1/2 out of ****