From Jeff Nelson

Animation is a brilliant medium with the capability of expressing another perspective on life that simply isn’t possible in live-action. Carl Joseph Papa’s The Missing is such a film that traverses the mind of its protagonist using its visual style with success. The result is an emotional journey, although it isn’t anything we haven’t seen before.

Eric (Carlo Aquino) is a mouthless man who spends long days at his office job. The majority of his human contact comes in the form of video chatting with his mother, Rosalinda (Dolly De Leon), who he shares a good relationship with, and a friendship with his co-worker, Carlo (Gio Gahol), which shows signs of growing into something far deeper. However, Eric struggles to communicate with those closest to him, deeply afraid of an alien from his past determined to capture him once again. The young man uses a small dry erase board that hangs from his neck to express himself, unable to express himself through words.

Papa’s screenplay jumps back and forth in time, exploring Eric’s present-day terrors and his initial confrontation with the alien. The young man is a kind soul, although his eyes perpetually emit signs of distress. He’s frequently invisible to those surrounding him, except for Carlo. They help one another in small ways, ultimately establishing a bond that allows Eric to face his most terrifying demons – or in this case, an alien.

The Missing is a journey of discovery in many ways, particularly as it relates to memory, identity, and love. Eric’s alien encapulsates every aspect of his life, constantly leaving him in a state of fear. He may be unable to speak, but Carlo and Rosalinda’s emotional support help guide our protagonist along this expedition to finding the voice that he’s been missing for so many years.

The romantic core and the mother-son relationship are The Missing’s beating heart, ultimately acting as an emotional force that works rather well. Love manifests in more ways than one, allowing it to burst between the characters in familial and romantic connections through the joyful and bleak moments alike. 

Papa creatively utilizes the animation as a metaphor for Eric’s greatest fears, which Carlo attempts to keep in check. The rotoscope visuals look fine, although it limits some of the performers’ expressions, particularly when it comes to Eric’s, which don’t have much range from one scene to the next. 

The Missing can’t entirely break from the palpable similarities to Gregg Araki’s extraordinary Mysterious Skin, but its own uniquely earnest relationships that Papa develops are where it shines. The combination of sci-fi and drama don’t always work here, particularly in its heavy-handed revelations. Nevertheless, Aquino and Gahol’s chemistry radiates off the screen, while De Leon's stellar performance is filled with pathos. The film’s heart is in the right place, but the overall execution isn’t entirely there.

Rating: 3/5

The Missing is the Philippines’ official submission for the Best International Feature Film category of the 96th Academy Awards in 2024.

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