I was going to go into some detail about fixed screen Horror/Thrillers, but I honestly can’t chart their ups and downs and explain why some filmmakers would take on the challenge of making computer screens cinematic. I’m sure the budgets were modest and it made sense during the pandemic when The Host came out. There aren’t many of this type of film, but Unfriended was probably the most profitable and Searching is largely considered the best. (A 2023 follow-up called Missing is also quite good and I recommend 2013’s The Den, which may be the scariest of this group.
Searching stars John Cho, and considering he’s 90% of the show it helps that this is probably his best performance. The story builds out more substance than you would think capable from a bunch of computer screens, and the film finds other ways to be visually creative within the limitations. Considering the emotional remove created by the style, there’s a good amount of forward momentum. The final twist is a divisive point and it admittedly strains logic, but also shows how modern tech can bring new avenues of misdirection to a mystery plot.
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