Seventeen and Missing

Seventeen and Missing is a thrilling and suspense-packed movie that came out in 2007. The film stars Dedee Pfeiffer, Matthew Harrison, and Tegan Moss. The storyline revolves around a mystery that hits close to home for a family when their teenage daughter disappears.

The film begins by introducing the Johnson family. Emory (played by Dedee Pfeiffer) is a successful novelist, writing under a pseudonym to keep her private life separate from her professional career. Her husband Daniel (Matthew Harrison) is a devoted stay-at-home father and husband. Together they have raised their 17-year-old daughter, Shay (Tegan Moss), in a loving and somewhat sheltered environment.

The story kicks off when Shay fails to return home after a late-night party, and her parents are confronted with every parent's worst fear - their child is missing. As the hours turn into days, Emory's anxiety compounds, she's plagued by a feeling of helplessness and paranoia, escalating even further when she starts receiving enigmatic emails and witnesses strange occurrences around her house. Simultaneously, Emory starts to question the people around her that she once trusted.

Matthew Harrison delivers a strong performance as Daniel, grappling with his own feelings of inadequacy as a father and husband unable to protect his family. He tries to maintain his composure while dealing with his own fears and frustrations.

Tegan Moss, who plays Shay, is portrayed through a series of flashbacks, contributing an additional enigmatic layer to the entire narrative. Her strong-willed character is pivotal in maintaining the film's suspense, leading the audience to question the circumstances around her sudden disappearance.

The storyline unravels in layers, and viewers are taken down a mysterious path that blurs the lines between reality and a novel’s plot. The police are baffled, the community is on edge, and Emory - who ironically makes a living off creating mysteries - finds herself in the center of one, but this time the stakes are her own daughter's life.

Seventeen and Missing brings together the elements of suspense, mystery, fear, heartache, and a deep-seated love that a family shares. It's a compelling narrative that will keep you on your toes as it masterfully plays out the strength and frailty of human emotions. The film delves into the struggles of a family dealing with uncertainty, giving viewers an understanding of their journey, their fears, and their desperate hope for Shay's safe return.

Director Paul Schneider does an exemplary job in bringing out the essence of the storyline — the palpable dread, the desperation, and the suspenseful tone. Schneider makes the most of his talented cast to create authentic characters that connect with the audience on an emotional level. The film ingeniously avoids laying all its cards out too soon, keeping you hooked till the very end.

Cinematographic choices add greatly to the overall tone of the movie, the camera works with an intriguing interplay of light and shadow setting the mood for every scene. The soundtrack does just as much to invoke a sense of unease and arousal curiosity.

Despite being a thriller, Seventeen and Missing also gives us a glimpse of the value of family ties. It shows that in times of crisis, familial bonds stand fortified and every member rises to challenges in their own way, spinning a poignant tale of unity amid chaos.

Seventeen and Missing is a movie that hooks you from the get-go. It takes you on an emotional roller-coaster, filled with suspense at every turn. It's a heart-gripping narrative that keeps the audience on the edge of their seat until the last frame. So, if you're in the mood for an engrossing thriller that also tugs at your heartstrings, Seventeen and Missing is a must-watch.