Megan Is Missing
Common Sense says
- NR
- 2011
- 85 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Megan Is Missing is a found-footage horror film that's presented as being based on real events but is actually fictionalized. The film follows Megan (Rachel Quinn) and Amy (Amber Perkins), young teens who are kidnapped and tortured after talking with a stranger on the internet. The story is meant to teach viewers a lesson, but the film's sheer amount of torture and violent imagery is extremely disturbing. And despite the fact that it features young actors, the content is distinctly for mature audiences -- and even they might find it hard to watch. Expect scenes of rape and coerced sexual acts on minors, graphic discussions of sexual assault on a minor, domestic violence, torture, and death. Underage characters are shown in their underwear. Language includes "f--k," "s--t," and more, drugs are mentioned and shown, and there are long scenes of underage drinking and drug use.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Should be banned in USA
This film does'nt deserve the fame!
Literally if you think a child should watch this; your sick.
I don't know how a movie like this can even be viewable, let alone legal.
What's the story?
MEGAN IS MISSING centers on Megan Stewart (Rachel Quinn), a 14-year-old girl who's been the victim of sexual assault in the past and goes missing after talking to someone who was posing as a teenage boy online. Her 13-year-old friend Amy (Amber Perkins) is also kidnapped by the same person after talking with him online in an effort to find Megan. The film is made in the style of a found-footage documentary (though the events portrayed didn't actually happen in real life) in the hopes of teaching audience members to protect themselves and their children while on the internet.
Is it any good?
Directed by Michael Goi, Megan Is Missing is hard to watch. There are two reasons for that. The first is that the "found" footage used in the film can be long and drawn-out, creating a tedious viewing experience. Most of the acting is also lacking, breaking the illusion that the film is based on actual lost footage. (It feels more like reenactment quality, frankly.) The second reason is the amount of violence the film uses to get its point across. There are scenes of underage drinking, drug use, sex, and, most disturbing, rape. There's also a focus on torture and murder, which only increases the film's ick factor. More than likely, viewers will feel gross by the time the credits roll.
While the film's focus is to scare audiences into being safe on the internet, the reliance on disturbing imagery and scenarios could be seen as actually undercutting that message. Indeed, the film has become a viral sensation thanks to young TikTok viewers solely because of its graphic nature, not for its message of internet safety. If your teen happens to view this film thanks to TikTok, be sure to put the film in perspective for them and use it as an opportunity to talk about what it means to be safe online.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about internet safety. How can children and teens protect themselves on the internet?
What can parents do to make sure their children are safely using the internet?
What are the warning signs to look out for when interacting with someone on the internet?
How does the violence in Megan Is Missing compare to what you might see in an action movie -- or even a slasher horror movie? Do different types of media violence have different impacts?
Did the movie's style make you think that it was about real events? Did that affect the impact it had on you? How can media contribute to manipulating what we think is real vs. fake?
Movie details
- On DVD or streaming: May 3, 2011
- Cast: Amber Perkins, Rachel Quinn, Dean Waite, Jael Elizabeth Steinmeyer, Kara Wang
- Director: Michael Goi
- Studio: Anchor Bay
- Genre: Horror
- Topics: High School
- Run time: 85 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: December 12, 2020
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