2020 is not much of a year in movies, especially in the horror genre, but The Missing surely served its purpose successfully as the only horror entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival line up. It has the traditional jump scares and offers eerie sequences for that whole-package terrifying experience you are looking for in a horror film. Though it is supposed to be released in April as part of the first ever MMFF Summer edition, its postponement to a Christmas day launch is a great move as it is the most ideal gift for horror film enthusiasts this holiday season.
The ensemble cast excellently clicked together. Ritz Azul and Joseph Marco as the film’s front liner impressively played their role very well and has that immense connection to each other. Miles Ocampo as Len, who is surprisingly part of the main cast too, unfortunately had less screen time even though her role is technically important to the flow of the narrative. The only child in the film, Aki, could have pulled off a local version of The Grudge film franchise’s Toshio Saeki because of his face features and sinister movements similar to this Japanese horror icon if only given enough emphasis. While the ghosts or the spirits, physically speaking, are frightening enough, it can still be improved in terms of makeup and prosthetics for a more realistic appeal.
Overall, The Missing sure
is a good horror film. More than the brilliant cinematography that showcases
Saga, Japan like no other, it is a classic horror offering this holiday
season from Regal Entertainment. Although it has a bit laggard storytelling, small
details that are significant but not given seriousness, and there are literally
‘missing’ pieces throughout its entire runtime, the movie
still wraps up flawlessly and fine. It is a unique set apart from the
traditional Shake Rattle and Roll scares but maintains the Regal Entertainment loyalty in telling a horror masterpiece.
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