Searching: Hitchcock meets HTML

A thriller for the Snapchat generation, Searching is a whip smart affair that is played out solely via the screens of several computers and a smartphone. And while this may initially sound like an embarrassing recipe for disaster a.k.a the cringey internet horror flick Unfriended or Elijah Wood's awful online clunker Open Windows, Searching turns out to be a far more intelligent film that understands and utilises the capabilities of technology in a way rarely seen in other films.

Most importance to the effectiveness of Searching is that it is anything but a gimmick of a film. Never at any point does the format of the project, carried out as mentioned over the interface of several screens as our protagonist David (John Cho) attempts to find his missing daughter through some renegade online detective work, feel like a pointless and unnecessary addition to the plot. 

Instead, we see how the power of technology, and in particular the internet, helps to advance David's search, leading to numerous discoveries and nail-biting new leads. As such, the whole aesthetic of the film feels entirely natural and so thoroughly thought out that it should make many screenwriters hang their heads in shame at their embarrassing attempts to shoe horn current tech into their films. This seemingly effortless ease that Searching possesses in utilising its medium is no less perfectly illustrated than its opening sequence. 

The first ten or so minutes are a lesson in how to deliver exposition in an original and wonderfully creative way, as we learn about David, his wife and his daughter via their old Windows XP computer. We see past photos and videos of the family, calendar appointments and web searches, all of which combine to tell us all we need about the family without the need for exposition to be sent flying at us with the subtlety of a Michael Bay explosion (I'm looking at you, every film that feels the need to shove endless news reels down our throats, doing away with any narrative skill or story building whatsoever). 

And the rest of Searching is equally as accomplished, never needlessly diluting its formula while keeping it fresh and original throughout. One of the most thrilling later sequences, for example, sees the focus of the action switch from laptop to iPhone screen as David races to a possible lead in his car, his path shown through Google Map's navigation feature. 

While this may not sound particularly thrilling on paper (or, ahem, on screen), I can guarantee you that it certainly is captivating from minute one. These creative touches and intelligent uses of the film's technology-centric approach alone make Searching a film worth seeing, with their approach to tense storytelling never failing to impress. 

Another major highlight is the film's refreshingly ambiguous message towards the complex pros and cons of online discourse. We are shown both the good and the ugly of websites like Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and YouTube, where we see a mixture of people seeking to help David in his search while others hypothesise that he himself is the one who kidnapped his daughter and is staging a hoax investigation. At times, it all feels horrifyingly realistic. 

It's this success in the film's ambitious approach and powerfully accurate execution that ultimately makes it so frustrating to see the final act of Searching fall flat so rapidly. Without entering spoiler territory, the film ends up building up ridiculous plot points one after another, linking them together in a highly questionable way right up until the credits roll. 

Of course, I'm fine with any number of preposterous plot twists (M. Night Shyamalan fans rejoice!). But for 90% of the film, we are given such a highly convincing and well thought out tale of mystery and intrigue that when the film eventually enters ridiculous territory, it just feels like a bit of a let down.

Despite this, Searching is a damn fine thriller that feels bitingly up to date and extremely wired in to online culture. Sure, it may not be a perfect film and it may not quite have the legs to keep you hooked right till the end, but it earns its stripes through its dedication to its aesthetic and it's impressively non-gimmicky status. And that alone makes Searching a film worth seeing.