Gone Missing (2013)

I was on the edge of my seat! Very suspenseful. You have no idea who did it and your suspicion keeps shifting from guy to guy. Well done! Fantastic characters! From the sleazy, shifty bus driver, vomiting college boyfriend, Mexican party boys, to the innocent girls who simply made poor drunk decisions... wonderful all around. Special surprise ending, with a FURTHER lesson to be learned. Beautiful sunrise too! A real prize from Lifetime, should be required viewing for all. If you are a fan of vacation horrors, this is a must see. The scenery: San Diego, the sunrise, the beach, the pool, all made me feel as if I was on vacation too. Pass the margaritas!

I was not expecting a masterpiece of a film, but it is completely obvious that research was not done before executing this film. Does anyone on the production or writing team know how missing persons cases are handled (aside from being aware that missing persons reports cannot be filed within 48 hours of the person being missing)? As a previous hotel manager, I was appalled at the way the involvement of the hotel security was handled. Generally a guest would not escort a security guard to another guest's room. A hotel guest would never be allowed to review camera footage alongside the security firsthand. Next, the fact that police then became involved, they would not have included the mom in the investigation and interrogation process. This made the film difficult to watch. Getting past these discrepancies, I was extremely annoyed that Lisa (Matty's mom) never really seemed to see the error of her ways. Did she feel it wasn't important to provide some kind of guidance to her daughter ever? Could she not see how her lack of parenting could have caused her daughter's murder or her friend's murder? Despite the acting efforts, this film was not well written or thought out.

Overprotective mom Daphne Zuniga (as Rene Allen) doesn't like the blue bikini 18-year-old daughter Brigette Davidovici (as Kaitlin) is packing for their sunny San Diego spring break. Mature-looking 15-year-old brother Nicholas Grava (as Kennedy), who reluctantly has to room with Ms. Zuniga, thinks his sister is "advertising." So, the bikini goes… on the trip. Also along are more lenient best friend Lauren Bowles (as Lisa) and her unquestionably wilder daughter, party-ready Gage Golightly (as Matty). When hunky Brock Harris (as Alex) and other handsome young men mix alcohol with the pretty daughters, the girls get real "Gone Missing". This is a well-performed (especially by a frantic Zuniga) and easy to identify with TV movie. The regrettable "wobbly camera" technique is used effectively. Director Tara Miele and editor Phil Norden are notably good at inter-cutting the flashbacks, as we learn what happened to the missing girls.****** Gone Missing (6/15/13) Tara Miele ~ Daphne Zuniga, Lauren Bowles, Brigette Davidovici, Nicholas R. Grava

The writers and director have the actors looking west from California to take photographs of a sunrise. I don't think you can do this. I believe the script says the location is Coronado, CA. Is "Pacific Point" a real place? What am I missing here? As long as I've been alive the sun has risen in the east. The actors have given credible performances. The story line is flabby and, aside from a harrowing experience for Mom, the dialogue, photography and character development are uninspiring. I'm not sure what the theme is in this movie. If it is a warning to young people to behave better and use the brains their parents gave them when it comes drugs, alcohol and avoiding handsome guys with no morals, they could probably do better spending Saturday nights for a couple of months observing what goes on in the emergency room of the hospital where I used to work.