Megan Is Missing

Movie review by Monique Jones, Common Sense Media
Megan Is Missing Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Internet-dangers horror relies heavily on torture, violence.

NR 2011 85 minutes
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Parents say

age 17+

Based on 8 reviews

Kids say

age 17+

Based on 52 reviews

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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.

Community Reviews

Jessica K.
Jessica K. Adult
January 4, 2023
age 16+

Internet dangers

I believe that this movie should be shown to teens because of the premise that internet predators are out there. This stuff can happen. Yes the situations and depictions can be a bit much, but its reality for some.

This title has:

Educational value
Erika F.
Erika F. Adult
November 27, 2021
age 18+

Traumatizing, Sick, scarring even to adults

This not only isn’t appropriate for children, this is significantly scarring for any sane human. The amount of torture, rape, and “real-life-recorded” horror pictured is so severe that it is physically sickening. The involvement of minors adds to the shock and disgust appeal and even as a “warning” for young adults and women everywhere about the dangers of rape and kidnapping, or even used for educational purposes despite its graphic content intentional for scare factor to make a point that these things really do happen and are serious, it’s to the degree that most humans would have trouble making it through to the end. Personally, aside from personal training for actual police officers who could go into a field where they might witness this first hand, I think this film should be banned. There is no light in which any human being should be subjected to this, especially with the realities of it being so prevalent today. All other adults I’ve know who’ve watched it have also been scarred seriously and I would not recommend watching it no matter who you are. And this isn’t even including the extensive non-violent sex scenes that portray underage girls and children performing graphic sex scenes on grown ups (with visible Nude genitalia AKA child porn) and the crazy drug use of both adults and children and all the swearing.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 8 parent reviews

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.

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