Eric (voiced by Carlo Aquino) is an animator who works at night. He is mute (depicted in the movie as him having no mouth) and has a not-so-subtle crush on his co-worker Carlo (voiced by Gio Gahol). Eric’s supportive, slightly overbearing mother Rosalinda is voiced by Dolly de Leon (Golden Globe-nominated for her iconic role in Triangle of Sadness.)
When Rosalinda asks Eric to check on his uncle who has been missing in action for several days it triggers a terrifying series of events. In a series of flashbacks we see how Eric lost his voice due to an encounter with a monstrous alien who invaded his home. Now the alien has returned intent on dragging Eric back to his home planet.
The Missing is a surreal, tender, heart-rending sci-fi animation film from director Carl Joseph E. Papa. Papa uses digital rotoscope animation (tracing animation over live footage) to depict Eric as he struggles to make himself whole. Unapologetically queer the beating heart of the movie is the blossoming relationship between Eric and Carlo. Carlo is genuinely a saint helping Eric through his terror and pain as the horrifying memories of the alien encounter cause Eric’s life to implode.
Genre-savvy fans will see where this is going long before the film’s end but Eric’s healing journey builds to an emotionally devastating conclusion which would melt the strongest of hearts.
The Missing screened at the Fantasia International Film Festival and was the Philippines’ submission to the 96th Academy Awards.