THE SEARCHING (2018)

1. Plot Summary
A local police investigation supervised by a detective is
opened as a 16- year old girl (Margot) goes missing
mysteriously. With no identified single lead, Margot’s
father (David) breaks into her laptop and contacted all of
her friends and looks into every photos and videos to look
for possible clues in a desperate effort to find her.
2. Theme
The Searching (2018) follows a psychological drama
thriller movie genre.
3. Production Team
 Director: Aneesh Chaganty
 Writer: Aneesh Chaganty and Sev Ohanian
 Producer: Timur Bekmambetov
 Co-producer: Congyu E
 Music Department Head: Torin Borrowdale
 Casting Department Head: Lindsey Weissmueller
 Cinematography
 Director of Photography: Juan Sebastian Baron
 Director of Visual Photography: Nicholas
Johnson and Will Merrick
 Film Editor: Nicholas Johnson and Will Merrick
 Production Designer: Angel Herrera
 Art Director: Carol Uraneck
 Set Decorator: Bobby Guard
 Costume Designer: Emily Moran
  Makeup Department
 Key Hairstylist: Gina Banic
 Assistant Hairstylist and Makeup artist: Sarah
Hall
 Production Supervisor: Tim Smith
4. Main Cast/ Main Actors
 John Cho as David Kim
 Sara Sohn as Pamela Nam Kim
 Alex Jayne Go as 5 year old Margot
 Megan Liu as 7 year old Margot
 Kya Dawn Lau as 9 year old Margot
 Michelle La as Margot
 Joseph Lee as Peter Kim
 Debra Messing as Detective Vick
 Steven Michael Eich as Robert
 Connor McRaith as Isaac
 Briana Mclean as Abigail
 Erica Jenkins as Hannah
 Ric Sarabia as Randy Cartoff
5. Movie Setting
 The film takes place entirely on electronic screens,
like those of laptops and cameras, but locals may
recognize that Kim's frenetic search for his daughter
takes place around San Jose and the South Bay.
6. Technical Aspects
 Direction
This execution, by first-time director Aneesh
Chaganty, is done brilliantly. He had proven his
directing skills as this movie became one of the Best
Reviewed Movies of 2018. Every scene is exciting
and interesting that we can really see how manageable
and determined director he is. The unique thing that
sets his movie apart from others is its dramatic
underpinning. Other future films that he will be
directed will surely be the one viewers should look up
to.
 Cinematography
The cinematography is so innovative. The gimmick is
setting the movie entirely within the confines of
electronic devices, which enables us to feel like we are
the characters of the story logging in on the internet
and this what makes Searching more interesting than
every other film with a similar plot. It seems to let us
feel like we are them and they are us. The movie used
the internet as a platform to narrate a compelling
mysterious story. It shows us all real websites,
technology and actual examples of how you can
search the internet to find information. It is surely a
very exciting film that needs to be seen on the big
screen and one that seems like an avenue into what the
future of cinema could be.
 Screenplay
The Searching is a kind of a solid work of art. It has
builds of excellent story, ever-versatile actors and
actresses and an utterly entertaining movie script.
Though there are parts of the movies which lacks
dialogue with no human characters to watch, the film
was always forward moving and the suspense and
mystery of it continuously build until the last part.
There were so many twists and turns, they made it
impossible to truly predict what was going on. At one
point we predicted one thing that did unfold but we
were almost immediately surprised by another new
turn. There was a story, there was substance, there was
intrigue, there was heart. And there wasn't a thing
presented in the film that did not contribute to the
story.
 Sound Effects/ Music
The people behind the music department are really
wonderful and impressive. The selected music and
sound effects are all beautiful and well-tailored to each
scene to give and keep it in the mood of the movie.
There are music that bring us into a suspenseful mood
while there are some which are dramatic and heart-
touching.
 Production
 Every people on or off the camera played their roles
and responsibilities well. The casting is so good, as
well as to the acting. The direction, photography,
editing, sound, music, design and the authenticity of
the set are all impressive and excellent. It embodied to
what a true challenging film making is all about.
7. Entertainment Value
The movie is something that we are really entertained
watching the entirety of it. It's a constant thrill ride
throughout, even as conventional storytelling techniques
seep through the cracks at the end when the laptop screen
gimmick proves too challenging. It has so many twists and
turns where we, as viewers, try to think of possible answers
or predictions in solving the problem or case that the movie
has but at a point, what we try to be predicted seemed to be
unfolded but surprisingly there is another breathlessly new
turn that left unanswered. Probably, if you are a moviegoer
who likes films that would makes you feel like you are the
character or will challenge your mind to help the character
solve the movie conflict, then this movies is highly
recommended for you.
8. Overall Rating and Lessons Learned
To rate this movie from a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the
highest, we would give it a perfect 5. This movies made us
all breathless that even the next morning after watching, it
is still our talk and continuously discussing and drawing on
our minds. It always leaves us a question: what if it
happens to us?, what can we do if there are same cases that
exist today?, what if I have been imprisoned due to
accidental occurrence? and more. The very essential
learning that we all have learned as watching this kind of
movie entirely sums up to having an open and good
communication. It is something that is very simple but has
a great impact on everything. Through it, we can be able to
express ourselves, our feelings, our emotions, our own
thoughts and perspectives. If you would watch this movie
you would find out in the ending how a certain phrase
helped the main characters strongly build their love and
happy relationship through a good communication. Another
learning is to limit people whom you can trust especially if
you have only met him or her online or through the
internet. There are several cases nowadays of online
stalking and online human fraud or forgery which results in
serious physical, mental, psychological and emotional
challenges. Its no bad to build friendships and to know
other people, but we should always keep in our mind that
we still have to choose and acknowledge them properly
before putting our trust to them.