--- title: "Missing: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/missing/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/missing" critics_score: 67 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Missing (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 67 from 15 reviews: 8 positive, 7 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find Missing an entertaining thriller that stretches its own premise further than it should. The praise clusters in two places: Storm Reid, whose resourceful, extremely online teenager nearly every review singles out, and the screenlife format itself, with reviewers admiring how browser windows, FaceTime calls, Ring footage and smartwatches are turned into sources of suspense. The reservations cluster just as tightly. A large share of the reviews complain that the twists pile up until plausibility gives way, with Slant finding the final act unintentionally funny rather than tense, and IndieWire arguing the escalations never land emotionally. Several also feel it is glib about grief and intimate partner violence, and less fresh than its predecessor Searching. The spread is fairly wide, from Slant’s dismissal to Polygon’s outright enthusiasm, but no review is hostile; the disagreement is over how much nonsense a good ride can carry. ## The AV Club Rating B. 19 January 2023. Storm Reid delivers a convincing performance as a teenager navigating crisis, enhanced by innovative screenlife cinematography using browsers, FaceTime, and apps. The film proves a worthy addition to the genre with a tight script and solid execution of its techno-thriller premise. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/missing-movie-review-storm-reid-1849985413) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2023. The suspenseful sequel follows digital breadcrumbs in a breakneck pace of shocking twists while reckoning with grief, loss, and intimate partner violence in a realistic way drawn from headlines and true-crime culture. It entertains but explores the terrors and triumphs of tech effectively. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-01-18/review-missing-turns-up-more-terrors-in-tech-and-true-crime) ## RogerEbert.com — Christy Lemire Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2023. The film delivers a zippy screenlife thriller but includes too many twists that erode its realism and novelty compared to the predecessor. It effectively uses modern tech elements like Ring video and comments on true-crime obsession while celebrating technology's possibilities through Storm Reid's resourceful performance. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/missing-movie-review-2023) ## Little White Lies — Alison Rumfitt Rating 2/3/2. 19 April 2023. The critic finds the film an enjoyable but ultimately sour twisty thriller anchored by Storm Reid's performance. They single out the clever use of the screenlife format and social media elements for praise, while complaining about excessive twists and glib handling of serious subject matter. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/missing) ## Radio Times — Dave Golder Rating 3/5. The critic views it as an entertaining cyber-thriller with clever moments despite a ludicrous plot. They praise its compelling, humorous and immersive qualities while noting contrived storytelling and dated tactics in the climax. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-pgwb8g/missing/) ## The New York Times — Amy Nicholson Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2023. The strenuous techno-thriller relies on a computer-screen gimmick for a teen's search for her missing mother, with relatable online sleuthing giving way to ludicrous twists that the lead parries confidently. It includes a meta-joke referencing the prior film in the series. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/19/movies/missing-review-moms-lost-in-the-matrix.html) ## IndieWire — Vikram Murthi Rating C. 13 January 2023. The stand-alone sequel stretches its screenlife gimmick to bigger but dumber places, with logic-defying developments that undermine the story. It captures contemporary internet usage well in places but ultimately fails to ground its twists in emotional reality. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/2023/01/missing-review-searching-sequel-1234799942/) ## Variety — Todd Gilchrist Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 13 January 2023. The serviceable screenlife thriller has the lead actress excelling at being extremely online, with the directors nearly making the format cinematic despite its least visually interesting perspective. Improbable escalations and niggling questions limit its big-screen impact. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/missing-review-storm-reid-1235487348/) ## Slant Magazine Rating 2/4. 13 January 2023. The screenlife sequel becomes a gimmick as its convoluted mystery grows outlandish, losing the focused perspective that made the original effective. The barrage of red herrings and soapy twists makes the final act unintentionally funny rather than suspenseful. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/missing-review-storm-reid/) ## Empire — John Nugent 17 April 2023. The critic praises this screenlife thriller as gripping and emotionally richer than its predecessor Searching, highlighting Storm Reid's engaging performance as the tech-savvy daughter and the inventive format that still works as a conventional story. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/missing/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 23 April 2023. The film is a smart but occasionally preposterous thriller that lacks the freshness of its predecessor Searching but rattles along energetically with inventive storytelling. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/apr/23/missing-review-smart-internet-thriller) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Lovia Gyarkye 13 January 2023. The film is a nerve-jangling thriller that effectively uses its screen-based format to tell a pulsating story about surveillance and technology. It stands out for speculating on society's relationship with apps and information while delivering an alarming narrative. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/missing-nia-long-storm-reid-1235297813/) ## The Times — Tom Shone Rating ★★★☆☆. 23 April 2023. The film cleverly uses phone and laptop interfaces to tell its story of a daughter searching for her missing mother, delivering a clickbaity but engaging tech-driven mystery. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/missing-and-the-best-films-this-week-reviewed-79rcsrkp2) ## Polygon — Austen Goslin Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 May 2023. The critic calls it 2023’s best mystery thriller for its fresh, confident take on screen-based storytelling and entertaining amateur detective work. They single out the creative, organic framing of shots through devices that builds genuine suspense without repetition. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/23727137/missing-review-hulu-streaming/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2023. The critic calls it a highly entertaining thriller that improves on the original Searching with a different story and characters. They single out the visual style, crackerjack editing, plausibly crafted screenplay and fine acting for praise. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/01/missing-review-followup-to-techno-thriller-searching-storm-reid-1235228549/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2023. The critic finds it enjoyable, serpentine, sly and nail-biting, a worthy stand-alone sequel. They single out the inventive use of 21st-century screenlife elements like livestreams, smartwatches and browser windows for creating suspense and tension. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/missing-movie-review-2023-storm-reid/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating B. 13 January 2023. The critic praises the film's tense techno-mystery and clever use of the screen-life format for building suspense and exploring character depth through digital lives. They single out the expansive storytelling and strong lead performance by Storm Reid despite the format's limitations. [Read the review](https://collider.com/missing-review-storm-reid/) ## /Film — Jeremy Mathai Rating 7/10. 13 January 2023. The critic finds it a bold, twisting thriller that is entertaining and well-paced but lacks the emotional depth of the original and feels familiar. Praises the engaging plot and commentary on true-crime culture. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1166698/missing-review-a-messier-familiar-but-thrilling-sequel-to-searching/) ## The Playlist — Brianna Zigler Rating C+. 15 January 2023. The review criticizes the film for not authentically reproducing the screenlife format, feeling busy and pointless, and for being more a product of true-crime culture than a satire of it. Notes some entertainment in the plot but overall mixed to negative. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/missing-review-screenlife-sequel-to-the-thriller-searching-with-storm-reid-never-quite-connects-20230115/) ## Paste — Jesse Hassenger Rating 6.3. 17 January 2023. The review finds the film initially clever in its screen-life approach and meta nods to its predecessor but criticizes its later twists as cartoonish and its messaging as overly preachy. It singles out the erosion of plausibility and realism in the final stretch. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/storm-reid/missing-review-2023) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/missing.md