When the mystery thriller Research released in 2018, it was a great success with the public for its unique visual presentation: using computer screens and smartphones – and mysterious plot. Five years later, left will be released in theaters as a standalone sequel starring The Last of Us cast member Storm Reid (also known as screaming atomic bombs at Idris Elba in the suicide squad ). Reid plays June Allen, who turns to technology in search of her mother Grace (Nia Long) after she goes missing while on vacation in Colombia. The reviews are here, so let’s see what the reviews are saying before we do. leftIn theaters January 20.
John Cho made history Research as the first Asian American to star in a thriller, a title that didn’t excite him too much – with a father looking for his 16-year-old daughter. left it changes that premise, with the father being the unknown part of where he is in the sequel. Let’s see what critics think, starting with 24 News Bulletin Review by left . Eric Eisenberg says that if you can suspend your belief long enough to embrace some aspect of cinema on screen, you’ll be rewarded with an anthology sequel that’s even better than the original. He gives it 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying:
Missing can’t be said to particularly advance cinema on screen, but it’s further proof of the impressive viability of storytelling in the medium, and the story that unfolds is gripping, thrilling, and beautifully told. It’s a fun and twisted mystery, and the film makes a strong case for more chapters to be made in this new anthology series.
THR’s Lovia Gyarkye calls the film “chilling”, noting that it not only focuses on the existence of different technological advances, but also speculates on their effects on society, i.e. how easily we voluntarily submit to surveillance. The critic says:
Missing Logra maintains a propulsive and biting atmosphere and overcomes the burden of its conventional narrative rhythms by treating each item (Gmail accounts, iPhone photos and company websites) as a puzzle of deep-rooted leaders, who collect and offer more information que Most people. realize. For those already attuned to the tendrils of our increasingly surveilled world, Missing, like an episode of Black Mirror, will mostly confirm suspicions about the ease of following even the most stubbornly opaque online lives. For everyone else, it will be a frightening wake-up call.
Jeremy Mathai of SlashFilm rates left a 7 out of 10, saying the sequel leans heavily on aspects of what it worked for Research, but a smart script and gripping storyline add up to a bold, brash thriller that this reviewer says will take your breath away. According to the review:
Whatever else one may say, Missing is a crowd-pleasing film that should be seen in theaters with a raucous crowd. If its reach exceeds his in any way, it’s at least in service of an original, ambitious, and entirely different vision that could very well become the most unique original franchise this side of Rian Johnson’s Benoit Blanc murder mysteries. . . These days, it can’t help but feel like a breath of fresh air.
Robert Abele of The Wrap says the film proves that the digital world remains fertile ground for exciting storytelling, like left replaces Facebook and YouTube searches for Research and adds tools like Google Streetviews, mobile tracking, and Taskrabbit outsourcing. While it gets somewhat absurd in its twists and turns, it’s still exciting, says the reviewer:
Still, a handful of mysteries in this film that nobody is what they seem are still beyond June’s grasp until they can be revealed for both maximum suspense and, at times, heightened ridiculousness (particularly her madcap of the final scene and the climax). But who really cares how ridiculous the Harlan Coben-esque story is, when it seems like the genre is getting a juicy system upgrade thanks to the world of live streaming, smartwatches, Mac sticky notes, VPNs, and ring cameras?
Todd Gilchrist of Variety it also warns against the public worrying too much about how we view information at any given moment. The reviewer points out that there’s no real reason for this world to take place solely on screens, and the filmmakers have even cut off the outer corners when it suits their needs. According to this review:
Ultimately, Missing proves so indebted to its central technological premise that audiences who take it literally may be distracted by wondering how they view certain information and from what perspective, rather than focusing on an increasingly preposterous sequence of events that should anyway turn out to be compelling, at least as long as those who see it don’t dig as hard as June.
If you are intrigued by the concept and what the critics have to say leftYou can see this film on the big screen from Friday 20 January. And if you want to start planning your next movie night, check out our Movie release schedule 2023 to see what’s coming soon.
Source: Cinemablend
