THE leap from film editor to film director is a pretty uncommon one in the business of movie making.

It is, however, exactly the transition made by editors Nick Johnson and Will Merrick this week with Missing, a standalone sequel to Searching. That being Aneesh Chaganty’s hit screenlife 2018 thriller.

It’s easy to see why Johnson and Merrick were picked as the best men for the job when it comes to the sequel. As with Searching, editing is everything in Missing. Sure enough, it will make you think twice about your screen time.

Stepping into the shoes of Searching lead John Cho, A Wrinkle in Time star Storm Reid heads up Missing in the role of tech savvy teen June Allen. Hers is a close relationship with mum - and sole guardian, following the death years prior of her father - Grace, who’s played by Nia Long. An alumnus of Will Smith’s Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

When Grace jets off for a week away in Columbia with boyfriend Kevin (Ken Leung), June is left in the care of divorce lawyer Heather (Amy Landecker). Heather harbours an ill-disguised green eye when it comes to Grace’s relationship with Kevin (Ken Leung). That may be relevant.

It’s June’s job, seven days later, to collect Grace and Kevin from Los Angeles International. Alarm bells flair, however, when neither shows up at the airport nor makes contact with home.

As with Searching, the thrills of Missing unfold entirely in the ‘screenlife’ format, which is to say, entirely through computer, phone and tablet screens and web cams. It’s an approach not so far removed from the noughties’ fondness for found footage and similarly dependent on a certain degree of stretched credulity. Those unprepared to buy into the conceit will struggle.

Unimpressed by the FBI’s efforts, the film follows June’s efforts to track down her mum, hacking into gmail accounts and hiring a Columbia gig worker along the way. The hook’s a good one and as the end races closer, you’ll be desperate to know the answers.

Perhaps Missing hasn’t quite the fresh feel of Searching but it’s proof enough that the style as mileage and currency. Once upon a time, George Orwell’s Big Brother prophesies terrified. These days, we’re more than happy to share our location for Wi-Fi and the chance at 50p off a meal deal.