Among the Missing: Auntie Knows Best

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you have a soft spot for those old, black-and-white morality plays where everyone talks like they’re reading off a stage prompt, you might get a kick out of Among the Missing. If you need pacing, modern tension, or a plot that doesn't feel like it was stitched together with twine, maybe skip this one.

It’s perfect for a rainy Sunday when you just want to see some 1930s character actors try to handle a script that clearly doesn't know if it wants to be a gritty crime thriller or a wacky family comedy. 🤷‍♂️

The Aunt Martha Situation

Henrietta Crosman as Aunt Martha is the only reason this thing stays upright. She plays the dotty relative role so well you almost forget how completely illegal the boys' activities actually are. There’s this one moment where she’s poking around their hideout, and her face just shifts from 'confused old lady' to 'I know exactly what's in that box' in a split second. It’s a great little bit of acting that the rest of the movie doesn't really deserve.

The boys, Tommy and Gordon, are just kind of... there. They’re supposed to be these slick jewel thieves, but they spend half the movie looking like they’re waiting for the bus. Tommy’s whole 'falling in love with the nice girl' subplot feels like it was ripped out of a different, much boring-er movie.

Odd Little Notes

• The lighting in the apartment is weirdly moody for what is essentially a family squabble.
• I’m pretty sure one of the extras in the background of the jewelry store scene is just reading a newspaper.
• The dialogue feels like it was written by three different people who never talked to each other.

It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in The Office Boy, but with way less charm. It’s got that same 'we have a set for three days, let's shoot everything' vibe. The transition from 'let's hide these diamonds' to 'let's go straight' happens so fast it gave me whiplash.

Is it a masterpiece? Hardly. But there’s something endearing about how hard it tries to make us care about a reformed thief and his meddling aunt. It’s not The County Fair, but it’s not the worst way to kill an hour if you like your movies a little dusty and weird.