9. Searching (2018)

Searching is another film that takes place entirely on a Mac, and while we already have plenty of screens in our lives, it’s still oddly fascinating to get an inside look at someone else’s computer usage. Rather than fitting into the horror genre, Searching leans more towards a mystery. David Kim (a riveting John Cho) tries to track down his missing teenage daughter, Margot (Michelle La). Searching weaves through the overwhelming, cluttered digital landscape of our daily lives such as emails, social media, FaceTime, and text messages. It explores the idea that we construct identities through technology, often presenting ourselves differently online than we do in the real world.

David learns that he never truly knew his own daughter, and he goes to great lengths to try to find her again, his desperation increasing with every confusing new clue he uncovers. He also takes matters into his own hands, bypassing law enforcement to solve the case. As a taut thriller, Searching constantly keeps you unsure of where it’s headed. While it may not be the most visually exciting film, this experimental approach pays off thanks to the gripping narrative about how little parents often know about their children’s lives.