Missing

Directed by Will Merrick and Nick Johnson, Missing follows a rebellious teenager (Storm Reid’s June) as she’s forced to spring into action after her mother (Nia Long’s Grace) disappears during a vacation with her new boyfriend (Ken Leung’s Kevin). Filmmakers Merrick and Johnson, armed with their own screenplay, deliver a screen-life thriller that effectively captures the viewer’s interest right from the get-go, as the movie kicks off with a tremendously engaging opening stretch that’s heightened by a brisk pace and several personable performances – with the latter certainly exemplified by Reid’s appealing turn as the sometimes grating yet mostly sympathetic central character. The picture’s perpetually watchable vibe is heightened by a midsection overflowing with unexpected plot twists and standout sequences, including, in terms of the latter, a terrific interlude wherein June watches the progression of Grace and Kevin’s flirtatious videos to one another, and although the frenetic third act can’t help but come off as a little anticlimactic (ie it’s just too much, ultimately), Missing is, for the most part, a top-notch piece of work that keeps the viewer guessing for the entirety of its (slightly overlong) 111 minute running time.

*** out of ****