Come and Find Me Delivers Suspense but Not Enough Purpose

Saban Films, Poster :

Come and Find Me begins rather cryptically in the crosswalk. Our very own Aaron Paul appears to be blatantly following Annabelle Wallis back to her apartment, and #MeToo aside, right into her living room. As it turns out, David and Claire are only playing along and the joke is on us as they reveal their idyllic relationship to each other. However, the metaphor the duo is after is clearly apparent. Paul has no idea who he has taken up with in the 2016 suspense thriller by Zack Whedon, who previously had behind the camera stints with Deadwood, Rubicon and Southland.

Nonetheless, all is well for a couple that seems completely in sync. At the same time, any Jessie Pinkman residue easily slides away for those worried that the overwhelming success of Breaking Bad would keep the actor typecast.

But the tranquility changes as Claire disappears without the hint of a trace. At a loss, David despairs the local detective’s assurances that they will do everything to locate her.

The film then takes an interesting approach to the use of time. One moment he’s trying to make sense of the mystery, and the next the landlord appears at his door with an eviction notice. A year gone by, there’s no film technique to show the passage of time. So the abrupt request without fanfare leaves you feeling the magnitude of the profound occurance of a disappeared wife.

The same goes for the many flashbacks utilized to fill in the blanks of a relationship that wasn't as clear cut as David believed. No thematic cue to let you know a flashback is about to occur, the film constantly suspends you between the normalcy of their life, and the potential reality of Claire’s mysterious alter ego.

The first clue comes as David finds their mutual friend (Chris Chalk) frantically searching through Claire’s personal possessions. David now goes from perplexed and grieving partner of the missing to amateur private eye on a mission.

As such, Claire’s photography stash of mysterious figures and locations sends him off. He runs afoul of Eastern European gangsters, an unsavory CEO suitable for blackmail and a cabal of government agents and officials.

The possibilities include that maybe she’s an unintentional witness to a crime, holds crucial information on the CEO or actually runs with the national security establishment. Dead or alive, fully engaged or not, the flashbacks do point to a deeper involvement for Wallis, who first came to prominence in playing Jane Seymour in the Showtime series, The Tudors.

Of course, the parties involved all mean business and not in a good way. This does not deter David, though. His investigative skills are pretty good and so is his ability to shake off the detractors who are urging him to let the whole situation rest.

But despite his maneuverability, David finds he is in over his head and Come and Find Me doesn’t necessarily apply just to Claire. This has the circumstances of Clair’s disappearance revealed and David in complete disbelief.

Despite the disclosure, you are still left wanting more. There’s just too big a gap among the cross section of characters and their motives to justify the drama that has just unfolded before us. This even with the suspenseful delivery of the film and excellent performance by the players. A nice try, though and Come and Find Me might just be better left to the lost.

Come and Find Me is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD from Lionsgate Home Entertainment

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