MOVIE REVIEW
Missing (Sagasu)
 -     

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 2h 4m
Director(s): Shinzô Katayama
Writer(s): Shinzô Katayama, Kazuhisa Kotera, Ryô Takada
Cast: Aoi Ito, Hiroya Shimizu, Misato Morita, Jirô Satô
Where To Watch: opens theatrically on November 4, 2022, in New York (Film Noir, Brooklyn), Los Angeles (Laemmle Glendale), Columbus (Gateway), and more. The film will also be on VOD on all major platforms in the US and Canada on November 18 and Blu-ray on December 6.

RAVING REVIEW: Take what you think you know about this film and throw it out the window. This was such a dark and mysterious ride that you expect to figure it out but struggle with the onslaught of emotions.

Don’t expect a comfortable ride here; there are no seats available. This direct yet not in-your-face experience will leave you empty in the best way possible. I mean that with the utmost sincerity, the film will drain your emotional well and ask you to give more. You can see Director Shinzô Katayama’s inspiration from other movies they’ve worked on, including 2009’s MOTHER.

There’s no mistaking this slow burn as anything else; coming in at a little over two hours, you have to be fully invested in the film, but the layers of story and twists throughout allow you to become part of the experience and feel like more than just an outside observer. Just when you think you’ve got the story figured out… you don’t. The writing team behind the film knew what they were attempting to create here.

Often films will attempt to juggle right and wrong, putting people into extreme situations and making them decide how far they’re willing to go and what choices they’ll make to overcome. This film's path is unique because of the roadblocks thrown in the way to making these choices. Nothing is as straightforward as it seems; the character development helps build the story into something you care about. Although a few moments feel almost like filler or throw away, they ultimately help build up to an ending that’s worth the ride and then some.

For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews

Follow me on Instagram, Letterboxd, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about all things movies.