It's every parent’s worst nightmare. In Searching a dad hacks into his teen’s computer — which is bound to remind smart members of Generation Z to upgrade their privacy settings. But seriously, what happens in Aneesh Chaganty’s ingenious drama will induce panic.
Via shots almost entirely framed by laptops and smartphones, we’re introduced to David Kim (John Cho) and his picture-perfect kid Margot (Michelle La). The pair spend more time staring at their devices than each other, especially since the death of Margot’s mum (a loss conveyed with such economy that you barely have time to howl). Then Margot disappears and David realises he knows nothing about what makes his daughter tick. Or click. Even with the help of a moist-eyed LA police officer (Debra Messing) David is lost.
Like 2014’s Unfriended, Searching runs with its central gimmick, but never at the expense of character. David, Margot, and even David’s stoner brother Peter (Joseph Lee) are complicated. There’s definitely a sense that David is violating Margot by invading her digital space, which adds to the intensity.
Actually, Margot’s secrets, when they unfurl, are really surprising (we’re a long way from Twin Peaks). Another plus: Margot’s body is never fetishised (the sexiest images here involve languorous tentacles on a laptop screensaver). Shockingly, too, this is the first mainstream Hollywood thriller to be headlined by an Asian-American actor.
The final twist is gormless. Still, for most of its running time, Searching refreshes our screens. Smiley face.
Searching - in pictures
