Movie

Without a Trace

1983 · 120 min

A slow, aching plunge into a mother's worst fear, grounded in procedural detail and quiet, mounting dread.

Tagline: One morning, Alex Selky got dressed, waved goodbye to his mother, set off for school and disappeared.
Overview: English professor Susan Selky lives alone in a Brooklyn apartment with her young son, Alex. When Alex fails to return home from school one afternoon, a frantic Selky contacts the police. Detective Al Menetti, a father himself, takes an interest in the case that quickly turns into an obsession. As a devastated Selky struggles to come to terms with Alex's disappearance, Menetti steps out from behind the badge to continue investigating.
How it feels: Melancholic, tense, earnest and dark. Measured and needs your attention.
About: Parenthood, grief, isolation, obsession
Content: Mild violence, gore, sexual content and language.
Note: Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Full breakdown

Tone: melancholicstrength 2 of 3
tensestrength 2 of 3
earneststrength 2 of 3
darkstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: parenthood
grief
isolation
obsession
justice
Places: big city
home
Era: contemporary
Audience: adult
Form: true story
Content intensity: Gore mild
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex mild