Megan Is Missing

Megan Is Missing
Theatrical poster
Directed byMichael Goi
Written byMichael Goi
Produced byMark Gragnani
Starring
  • Amber Perkins
  • Rachel Quinn
  • Dean Waite
  • Jael Elizabeth Steinmeyer
  • Kara Wang
Cinematography
  • Keith Eisberg
  • Josh Harrison
Edited byMichael Goi
Production
company
Trio Pictures
Distributed byAnchor Bay Films
Release date
  • May 3, 2011 (2011-05-03)
Running time
89 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30,000–35,000[2][3]

Megan Is Missing is a 2011 American found footage psychological horror film[4] written, directed, edited, and co-produced by Michael Goi.[5] The film revolves around the days leading up to the disappearance of Megan Stewart (Rachel Quinn), a popular high school student in North Hollywood who decided to meet up with a boy she was interacting with online, and the subsequent investigation launched by her best friend Amy Herman (Amber Perkins). Goi based the film on a series of real-life cases of child abduction. Marc Klaas, the founder of KlaasKids Foundation, notably endorsed the film.

Originally developed as a low-budget independent feature in 2006, the film was shot for $30,000–35,000.[2] It did not find distribution until Anchor Bay Films gave it a limited theatrical release in 2011.[6] The film was very controversial upon its release. Marketed as an educational film, Megan Is Missing was banned in New Zealand[3] and has been heavily criticized by critics for its depiction of sexual violence and brutal imagery. Goi wrote the script in 10 days and shot the film over a week. Because of the graphic content, he requested that the parents of the young cast be on set during filming so that they were fully aware of their involvement in the project.[7]

It is one of the first computer screen films. The film experienced renewed popularity in 2020 after clips of the film were shared on TikTok. Goi later issued public warnings to prospective viewers after many users began calling the film "traumatizing."[8] Entertainment Weekly called it "2011's scariest horror film."[9] The film placed sixth in the DEG Watched at Home Top 20 Chart for Week Ending November 21, 2020.[10]

  1. ^ "Megan is Missing (2011) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Yang, Rachel. "Megan Is Missing director on the viral movie's deeper meaning and why he turned down a remake". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Tsintziras, Aya (22 November 2020). "'Megan Is Missing': Why New Zealand Banned This Horror Movie". TheThings. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  4. ^ "TIFF: Anchor Bay Buys 'Megan is Missing'". The Wrap. 16 September 2010. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  5. ^ "'Megan is Missing' Surfing the Internet is a deadly trip in Michael Goi's chilling cautionary tale". Fangoria #312. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Lammle Theaters the finest in film since 1938". The Los Angeles Times. April 16, 2011. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  7. ^ Heller-Nicholas 2014, p. 56.
  8. ^ Moniuszko, Sara M. "'Megan Is Missing' director issues warning after 'traumatizing' film goes viral on TikTok". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on 2021-02-07. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  9. ^ Yang, Rachel. "Megan Is Missing: Why 2011's scariest horror film is going viral on TikTok". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  10. ^ "DEG Watched at Home Top 20 Chart for Week Ending November 21, 2020". The Numbers. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.