If you ask any parent what their worst nightmare is, you can pretty much guarantee that the abduction of their child would be one of the first things to pass their lips. Such a horrific event could easily be exploited in a sensational or overly upsetting way, but The Missing deftly weaves an engrossing tale while also conveying genuine heartbreak and raw emotion through a cleverly constructed narrative.
During a family trip to France, Tony (James Nesbitt) loses track of his son Oliver one evening. A frantic search and police involvement eventually concludes the boy has been abducted. Tony devotes his life to finding Oliver, destroying his marriage to Emily (Frances O’Connor) in the process. The Missing shows both the initial incident as well as the fallout eight years later, cutting between the two for maximum plot and emotional effect as Tony uncovers new evidence forcing him to return to France and try to have the case reopened.
The Missing does two things really well. First, it assembles a great cast to deliver a powerful demonstration of how the abduction of a child can rip a family apart. Secondly it crafts a intriguing and absorbing thriller looking into the disappearance and the intrigue in the town where it happened. Each of these are components to be appreciated, but where The Missing truly sets itself apart from other shows is in blending the two in a complementary fashion around the central plot device of switching between two time frames: 2006 when the abduction first occurred and eight years later when some involved have moved on while others are still searching for Oliver.
It is a device that exceeds novelty value; it’s used for clever effect to heighten emotional impact, build reveals and connect clues, and most importantly show the aftermath of the abduction. The initial anguish is further explored, showing how eight years of pain has torn apart a family. The juxtaposition of time highlights differences, both big and small, in the surroundings as well as the characters themselves.
This device is used to enhance a cleverly crafted and well-paced mystery that unfolds naturally without any silly leaps or suspensions of logic. Such heavy matter is not to everyone’s taste, and the show does have a melancholy that permeates it. Sometimes it dwells in it a little too long, with some portions stretched a little thin. More focus would have perhaps delivered a bigger emotional punch. But taking the time to dwell in these more emotional moments is commendable, especially with performers like Nesbitt and O’Conner delivering such raw and impressionable work.
THE PACKAGEThe Missing is a joint TV venture between the BBC and Starz network here in the States, a standalone mini-series spanning eight episodes looking at a case of child abduction. This first season is now available on Blu-ray, prior to the release of a second season which will look at an entirely new case. This release contains all eight episodes across two discs. The transfer is passable; there are issues with flatness and contrast within the presentation, the blacks lack depth, and some texture issues are noticeable. Nothing to detract from the show, but obvious to those concerned with such things.
The Missing is pretty sparse on the special features. Three incredibly short features include: Time Changes All, exploring the different times and effect on the characters; Transformations, giving an overview of the plot and characters; and also Behind the Scenes, which explores similar themes. Each is relatively insubstantial, no surprise since they only clock in at around two minutes each. With the clever approach involving time and locations there was a technical side to this venture that would have been interesting to learn more about in depth.
THE BOTTOM LINEThere is a lot to applaud in The Missing. The show works a slow burn to embrace the mystery aspects and the quieter moments offer time to showcase the emotional impact of the abduction. It’s refreshing a show offers so much focus on the people affected by this terrible event rather than glamorizing it for TV with some forced-action narrative leaps. It blends a gut-wrenching tragedy with a cleverly conceived and executed mystery that is very much worth checking out.
The Missing is available on Blu-ray on April 14th, 2015.