PARANOIA: The Writer's Cut
Walkaway Entertainment and Stoned Gremlin Productions Presents The Writer's Cut of "Paranoia." This alternate version of the film is more in line with the original script, and best of all, the whole thing is free on the site!
If you would like to see the original version of "Paranoia," complete with audio commentaries and other extras, feel free to purchase the film from Walkaway Entertainment.
If you would like to see the original version of "Paranoia," complete with audio commentaries and other extras, feel free to purchase the film from Walkaway Entertainment.
Paranoia...for free? Sweeeeeeeeeeeet
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Writers Cut, nice. Takin' it back.
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Hell yes!!! finally I got to see this movie, I know it'll be awesome!!! thanks Brad
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I plan on getting the DVD, would you suggest to wait and watch that version first or to start with this?
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Get the DVD and make a bonus disc with "the writer's cut" on it. That's what I'm going to do, as both versions are good.
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Great movie, great ending, love it; thank you Brad for releasing it on the site!
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Wow, I honestly did not expect this. If anything, should the film get a Blu-Ray release (I would buy it the moment it is available) I hope both cuts are on there. I do have one question about this cut. Why is it in Black and White? (I'm guessing writer's intent, but I don't know.)
I will say though that I do honestly wish that the video wasn't in matted widescreen. The one thing about the videos on this site is that they don't cover my screen when I set the videos to full screen, which is extremely jarring.
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The movie was written as a black and white film.
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I know it isn't as convenient as streaming, but you could always use StreamTransport (free) to download the movie, and then use vlc and crop away the matting.
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Or, if you're using firefoxc, you can just open up the web console (It's under the Firefox Menu -> Web Developer) right before you press play on the video, and then on the console the live http header of the browser requesting the video file (in order to give to the flash player to play it) is displayed on the console. BOOM. you have the url. Just copy and paste into VLC's "Open URL/Location/Network" option, and you don't even have to download the file. VLC will crop outthe matting automatically.
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Awesome movie. It took me a few minutes to get used to Brad playing a serious role, but after that I was enthralled. Is this version a lot different from the original version? I'm considering buying it now.
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Dude you gotta check out his other movies, he plays some seriously fucked up roles. In "Freak Out" he's a child rapist, in "Cheap" he's a snuff film maker, and in "Midnight Heat" he's a burnt out pimp.
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I prefer this version greatly over the DVD version! Pretty much everything I had a problem with in the other version is gone.
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Ok, I've watched "the writer's cut," and here are the changes I've noticed. A lot of pop songs were added to the soundtrack, this version is in black and white, all of the obvious foreshadowing of the conclusion is now gone, and a lot of the more pretentious lines were removed.
This version is a lot better. The dialogue is so much smoother. The plot isn't nearly as predictable and the added soundtrack is fantastic. Not saying the other version was bad, but the director really should have released this edit.
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This was really interesting to watch. The DVD version was weird to me because it didn't feel like Brad's style of writing, which made me think there was a lot of script tampering going on. This version definitely feels like Brad's style and I enjoyed it much better.
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@Brad, very nice movie, love it in b/w.
But who were the other people that (Spoiler!) killed, the priest said they killed 13, who were they?
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Sorry for the Spoiler, I didn't think that would be a problem.
But did you think about who the other persons were that were supposedly killed (by my counting we had 8 or 9 shown killings)?
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Hey there, to explain this it would cause further spoilers, if u send me a message on facebook i'd be happy to fill u in.
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@Jillian: Thanks! I did send you a message to your FB, so fill me in when you get to it.
Again, sorry if I caused any spoilers, not my intention.
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hey there, don't know if you'll see this, but i never got a FB message about Paranoia - just wanted to say, since u said you sent one & i don't want you to think i am ignoring you...
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The soundtrack didn't fit the movie at all. But I understand you didn't have much to work with. And the whole black and white short film thing gets on my nerves. Still a neat flick though.
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Disagree. The black and white made it so much more haunting, and the soundtrack really went along with Brad saying the movie was supposed to be like a weird indie flick from the late 80s early 90s or like a retro music video. It added so much mood to the movie. I've seen the DVD version, and this one is better.
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Half agree. I love the original score to Paranoia, it gave it a very distinct eerie/lonely feel that this version lacked (I actually stopped watching because the music felt so unfitting). The black and white aspect didn't bother me, it helped some of the effects and reminded me of some of Brads previous films, along with what Paranoia originally reminded me of- Pi. On the other hand, it looked great seeing one of his movies in HD color for once though. I still personally prefer the DVD version, but really respect that he put this version on the site.
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I already purchased the DVD, I haven't watched this yet, but I thank you for making and posting it! Now to figure out how I can add this to the DVD content and burn a Disk with both versions on it!
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Badass soundtrack. The use of "Driver's Seat" was perfect. Same with The Everly Brothers part.
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Dunno, I thought the soundtrack was really off putting at times. The 80's pop music made me laugh more times than it made me feel unsettled, or what ever it was trying to accomplish.
Over all though, interesting and well done movie. I think this is Brad's best that I've seen. Probably because I don't tend to like his more 'raunchy' stuff. Just my style though.
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lol then whatever you do, don't watch "Midnight Heat." j/k. Anyway, Brad always makes movies that are very "of the time," and this movie really felt like a dark moody piece from the late 80s or early 90s. I thought the soundtrack really added to the nighttime driving scenes. That sweet 80s sax provided some great mood.
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The real lesson I got from this movie is don't avert from cell phones in reality or your own fantasizes because they can save you so much trouble.
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I always thought Jerrid would play a great cab driver
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The music really does make a difference, the original version is very good but this is awesome...Great work Mr. Jones
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I absolutely need to watch this when I have the time. Thanks for uploading this!
By the way, Brad. Question. Michael Biehn very recently made his own first movie, which he wrote, directed and starred in. It's a real low-budget movie, really an exploitation flick, that he wrote real quick and filmed real quick with his friends and past colleagues. Have you seen it yet? Would you review it? I'm sure you're a fan of Biehn, so it would be cool to hear your thoughts on it, the film being very B and cheap to make and all. It definitely won't get a theatrical release.
Oh, the film is called The Victim.
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Any movie that has Quarterflash on the soundtrack just HAS to be good!
This is a pretty taut movie, but I can't wait for Midnight Heat 2!
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I hate to say it, but I find the DVD version to be far superior on both a technical and emotional level. The added soundtrack actually caused me to stop watching it half way though because I felt it was so ill fitted- I thought the original score was brilliant. Not only that but the sound mixing was noticeably worse than it was on the DVD.
The black and white look I don't mind, it made the effects seem quite nice and believable. I did like to see one of Brads films in HD color for once though, so that's something of a toss up.
As far as the differentiating lines and scenes being taken out go, I didn't see any improvement from the original. Nevertheless, I have high respect of Brad for putting this on the site. The man's a great writer and actor, and Paranoia is my favourite work of his thus far. I just personally preferred the mood and feel of the original DVD by a mile to this, and have recommend that copy to many people who enjoyed it for what it was.
In other words, I'll stick with REAL Paranoia on DVD starring Brad Jones, thank you very much! to be the snob I am
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Given that this version is closest to the script, whether you like it or not, The Writer's Cut is the real version.
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Brad, what happened to that bathroom scene with Jerrid? It was edited down tremendously. We see you walk in, wipe your face, leave, then Jerrid's character says "have a nice night." People who haven't watched the DVD version are likely to think the scene is pointless. Just something I noticed.
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I just finished watching it.
Holy crap that was dark! I liked how insane everything was. And the twist ending was awesome!
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Legit criticism:
I admire that you put this one in one Blip file, other producers would put it up in multiple Blip upload to make more ad revenue.
I got about 45 minutes in before my browser crashed and I'll resume watching the rest in a bit.
Acting: All around good. Brad does a good job, the only thing is that he does the Snob/Jack Nicholson voice a lot. It's a little distracting and you can't help but see the Cinema Snob and not the character Brad is playing. I really loved the guy who played the killer, he did a great job and I wish he talked more.
Cinematography: Very good. A little shakey here and there. But overall better than the last few films/series I've seen from you guys (Cheap, Hooker with the Heart of Gold, and Gameboys) but I think the Dialog scenes could've benefited by having a master shot of the two actors talking, and then cutting from that to shot and reverse shot. But overall it's good. B&W is a Digital Filmmakers best friend.
Plot: B+. Good stuff. Can't complain but I can't truly judge it because I haven't finished watching it.
Sound/Music: Again, really good. A vast improvement over the previous films. The music fit the scene, the ADR was good, I could clearly hear what everyone was saying, and background noise wasn't a problem.
I look forward to finishing this. Good shit guys.
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really enjoyed this one. don't know the dvd version though. i think the b&w works nicely and the choice of music was good too. even if it sometimes fades out a little too fast for my taste (the music i mean). i can imagine shooting lots of it in dark and not too well lit places was quite a task to get right.
ultimately it's not a flawless but surely an entertaining movie. the editing worked good and makaes the viewer want to know what happens next on that trip.
enjoyed it. keep up the good work! =)
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Independent films FTW! I definitely have to get the DVD and watch the final cut. This was awesome!
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Brad and his white shirt surrounded by blackness for 90 minutes, the movie.
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As a fan of Team Snob for almost 2 years now (I have gone back and watched all of the old videos on the site too) I have to say that I'm more than happy to see all of you do so well in the project you've (seemingly) put the most work in to.
All of the other videos/reviews/movies have been a joy to watch, but seeing this makes me even more excited for whatever projects lie ahead in the future.
You probably get this a lot, but I really am a huge fan of Team Snob, and I can't wait to see what lies ahead for all of you involved.
Again, thank you for all that you do in bringing me joy in your brand of entertainment.
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I really enjoyed this movie. I came to the Snob's site after he joined TGWTG and I am not really a fan of their anniversary films so I didn't expect much of Paranoia--I don't know how that logic works, but that's what I came to. But to my shock and fun, this is incredibly fun, well done, and has an awesome soundtrack. Great work!
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This was a really great film!
I became a fan of the snob just after he joined TGWTG and to be honest, I really don't like their anniversary productions, so for whatever reason I never really expected much of this. I don't know how that logic works, but that's the logic I was going with.
I am overjoyed to be wrong. This was a great film that was very fun to watch and had an amazing soundtrack. Keep up the great work!
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I just finished watching the movie and read through the above comments. First off I would like to say it took about 5 minutes to get me solidly involved in this movie. It was a gritty ride through the eyes of a man trying to keep himself grounded in logic while being surrounded by insanity. The film accomplished and then some the tone it was going for.
I see a lot of complaints about the soundtrack and I can understand in a way... BUT i am not someone who needs the soundtrack to tell me when to be scared or in suspense. I found the use of songs we associate with memories of our own, along with the scenes being put forth, It is jarring and captures the sense that something so normal can be corrupted by a single action.
I also found the black and white to be suiting. again, I don't need the blood to be red to find it scary. I'm not normally a fan of black and white movies either, Infact it usually makes me second guess whether i want to watch it. This film however was better for the lack of color in my opinion.
Everything about this movie was black and white. Regardless of decisions made, it would always end up the same, heaven and hell, good and evil, showing that there is no grey area. It felt cold and lonely, disorienting, mind you I'm probably reading WAY too into this, I just feel the need to express why I found this movie great, and for the same reason as the complaints i'm seeing.
Also in terms of acting, Great job, it must be diffucult to get these performances especially given that you are all so close. Which would obviously help in some ways, but I can imagine might make some awkward as well. All in all I was expecting to sit down and watch an indie film, and no offense but i usually don't expect the world from one and neither should anyone else lol.
The point is I wanted to know what was going to happen next, and I wasn't leaving my fucking seat until I found out, and for that hats off to you Brad! Awesome movie , Thanks for releasing this.
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Hey Brad, don't often write comments, but thanks for putting the movie (at least this version) up for free, as I also am not financially able to afford to whet my curiosity when my favorite artists do make and release a full length feature. Great OST, great acting, camera-work, writing and lighting. Lots of clever, original moments that I'm surprised I haven't seen before. But even if it was as bad as the movies the Snob reviews, the gesture of posting it for your fans to watch for free is what really makes the movie. Thank you.
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Note on the soundtrack. I think Skitch did a poor job with the original music. The old pop songs were not only a great call back to some of your earlier work, but they also add a Lynchian vibe in parts.
As with all things on the site, the acting is a mixed bag. I can see what Brian is trying to do as Carl, but he could've used a little more rehearsal time. It seems unnatural, but perhaps not quite in the way it was supposed to be. The cameos from site regulars were very enjoyable, I particularly liked the seeming omnipresence of Jerrid, his performance had an ethereal quality to it that definitely added to the atmosphere.
The story is kind of difficult to take in even now, but the good news is that I will definitely be watching this again to make better sense of it. Brad, you did a good job keeping me interested as you always do.
It was nice to see your work get higher production values; the locations, props and effects were all vastly improved in comparison with your older work. The sound design could have used some extra work to make it blend in with the environment.
All in all, this could be your best work yet. Good job!
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While I don't mind getting criticism, It would be nice to hear from a viewer regarding what you thought was poor about the work I did for the original cut of Paranoia, if you don't mind elaborating?
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Oh, sorry, that comment I left was kind of rushed, in hindsight "poor" was a little too strong. Don't take it the wrong way, being a composer myself (or perhaps just being me) I can rarely listen to an original score without thinking about how I would've done it differently.
Thanks to a repeat viewing of the original cut, I now think it may be more the fault of the sound design than your own, which to me seemed a little rushed in general. To say your work was unsuitable would be a stretch too far, but there's something about it I can't quite put my finger on that felt out of place with the atmosphere to me. I can't really word it much better than that.
As a closing note; I have heard your work before on other projects, and I honestly think you're generally good at what you do, so please don't take anything I've said the wrong way, causing offence was not among my intentions here.
All the best to you.
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Oh, I don't really take offense to it. It's something That I'm still learning how to do, in terms of scoring for film, as I haven't really done a lot of it myself.
It's also okay if you don't have a clear idea of the specific problems, either. I was just curious if you had any more details. Don't worry, I'm not offended! At any rate, I wish you the best in your own musical endeavors, wherever they take you.
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That was really good. Dvd purchased!
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Heh, it's kind of hard to take the dialogue seriously, because I keep seeing the actors as the characters they usually play in this website.
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Is it just me, or is this a better Silent Hill movie than the actual Silent Hill movie? Just throw some monsters in there.
Great job, though. I really did enjoy it.
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Is this version included on the DVD, or is this the only way I can see it?
Either way I'm buying it, but that sure would be nice.
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For some reason I find the image of Brad holding a piece a bit silly...
I'm buying this DVD for sure. But you have to wonder, who will Snob review this movie 30 years from now?
"Today on Ancient Video Formats Hell,we're going to review a really obscure flick from the time before Soylent Green consumption was mandatory and everybody in America looked pasty and chubby. It's called -get this- Paranoia and stars snobploitation director Bradiero Rodriguez de La Huerta when he was still called just Brad Jones."
Ok,for serious,the movie is like a Twilight Zone episode directed by an early Roman Polansky. It has a very strong Repulsion/The Tenant vibe. For a production basically thrown together with your friends,this work is more than commendable (how did you convinced the sexton to let you film in the church?).
Good luck with the next movie and let's hope this movie outsells Violent Shit IV...
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This actually seems to work a lot better as a black&white movie. Adds more like a film noir feel to it.
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I though the first two acts of this movie were quite good. The ending was crappy, though, with an M. Night Shyamalan twist that comes out of nowhere. The last scene in the church also goes on WAY too long. Still, it's quite good for what it is, and very professionally made.
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Haven't seen the DVD yet but I intendto when I can afford it.
Anyway, I like it. A few of the early songs felt a little out of place to me but in general the music fit well. The performances were pretty good and I was actually expecting a slightly different ending, so good job! You actually managed to surprise me a bit movies don't often manage that. (SPOILERS SPOILERS) I knew he was the killer but I just thought he'd had a psychotic break or, based on the way he kept talking to himself, that he was schizophrenic or something.
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This movie is really good. But the two things that I thought about the entire time I watched it distracted me. Brad, knowing all you do about movies, you should know you cannot put in copyrighted music just because you like the songs. You need to get permission for every song you put in a movie. I read in the comments the movie on the DVD the music is different. Good because you actually are selling copies of that movie. It's so wrong and unprofessional to just put in songs you like. You should of found an indie rock band that is just making it to make the soundtrack.
Second, when the police officer pulled Michael over, the music should of been softer. You should of actually recorded the song coming out of a speaker, and then dubbed that over to make it sound like it's actually coming out of the car. Anybody that has edited videos just knows you are putting it in later in editing. But out of a speaker sound effect would of sounded more realistic. And quieter during the talking scenes. We should be able to barely hear it in the background during the dialogue.
I just want to say I am not being a troll. I love your site. I check it every day for new content.
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Actually, that's how he scores all of his free on site movies. Often picking those iconic songs are a huge part of the movie. They help to put the feel of the film in the right time and place, like Hooker with a Heart of Gold and Midnight Heat. It's fine because he's not trying to profit from it unfairly. The few that he's sent to DVD have original scores made specifically for them. This is actually why a bunch of his older ones will never go to DVD. They just wouldn't be the same without the songs he put in and he can't afford the rights for them.
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From a viewers perspective, I would want the movie to be as professional as possible. Copyright infringement is not professional. He does profit from this video through ads. He doesn't have to have another job because of the site's ads and TGWTG. It makes it look like he doesn't know as much about making movies as we all think he would know. That it's ok to just throw in any song that you like. And it's obviously not ok.
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Never gonna fucking happen =) Soundtracks are as big of a part of my movies as the actors. Get used to it, or watch someone else's movies.
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I've been waiting so long for this, and it was totally worth it!
Absolute brilliant work (as always). Loved the soundtracks used, although some where out of place.
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That was freaking amazing. Best movie I've ever seen. You guys are definitly getting a spot on my review page
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Could have used more CGI...
But seriously, loved the film. Came across to me as a more subtle Jacob's Ladder. I only wish I could buy the DVD now.
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Mark could've avoided all this with a little carving magic. Carving magic solves all problems. All problems.
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After watching this, I have to get the DVD. Great music, very interesting story, and Brad and the gang always puts on some superb acting and dialogue.
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now this was a really good film i especeilly liked Brads acting but the last 20 minutes was kinda weak i dont wanna spoil anything but the reason why everything happaned was kinda lame but yeah good movie shame it ended on a down note i will say the guy playing carl its funny to hear such a soft and high sounding voice come from such a big guy lol
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I really enjoyed this movie from start to finish. Brad is a very good actor and especially shows it in the scenes when he is fighting with his insanity. I would also like to say that i really liked the music selection throughout most of this movie(especially the Quarterflash song......that song SCREAMS 80's
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All in all, from a technical standpoint, I think this was the best movie you've put out so far. The audio was superior to any other project, the acting was all around great with few, if any, weak links. The b&w definitely helps it look more mainstream than the color. It also gave a huge feel of watching something like the Twilight Zone, especially when the eye popped up on the television. I think my biggest complaint, like with others, was perhaps the copyright soundtrack. I haven't heard or seen the DVD release yet, but if the soundtrack is more of the original score within this film, and less of the often befitting Brad Jones 80's tracks that didn't work in this film for some reason, then I'd be content. I'd also be content with a few more hints to what's going on before the major twist ending,which I also hear the twist is foreshadowed a lot better in the DVD release. As it stands, with overall story and enjoyment, this is probably my third favorite Stoned Gremlin production behind Freak Out and Hooker, both of which I think were stronger because Brad's performances were more over the top and stronger than in this film. This role was surprisingly tame by comparison and it kind of let me down a bit, but overall I still enjoyed it and do plan on getting the DVD.
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Hey! Good film! I saw the behind the scenes and witnessed the hard work and hours of prep and direction put into this, which resulted in a good flick.
I know exactly why Ryan didn't place the very appropriate song scores into the final cut, (C)opyright infringement. That's nothing anyone wants to deal with and would make the project financially destitute.
But since it was placed post final production, or even before who knows, and on the internet as non-distributed, it can get beyond that and be seen in the writer's vision as intended.
Now lets hope the Cinema Snob Movie is as good, or even better! I predict that it will be a "punny", more elaborate take of the lovably pretentious Snob character we've gotten to know over these years overall.
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Great movie brad. I loved the ending
and "Charon Taxi Service".
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Great movie brad. I loved the ending
and "Charon Taxi Service".
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hey everyone that was in this movie, all i can say is wow. this movie was amazing. after watching this i'm definitely buying the full movie. i want to know more about these characters. it had me guessing right to the end. everyone in this movie was great and it was shot beautifully aswell. one of my friends is an aspiring film maker so i will definitely be showing her this movie aswell.
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I actually liked this better than the DVD version. The dialogue was much more tight and flowed better. The DVD version's dialogue seemed to drag on too much. I loved the soundtrack as well, it fit more with the overall style of the film. And I loved the black and white. I'm a total sucker for a B&W thriller. Overall, really great job. It kind of felt like a late 90's Lynch film mixed with Pi. My hat's off to you, sir!
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I actually liked the B/W in this version alot. It gives off a different vibe which makes the movie have a bigger impact.
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Really enjoyed this movie, Brad. Although, I have to say I didn't like it as much as Hooker with a Heart of Gold. The main reason is that I felt the ending for Paranoia came out of nowhere, and Brian Irving's acting during the church scene wasn't strong enough to keep me engaged in what should have been the explanation for the surprise ending. So, it felt like a lot of build-up for a flat ending. Since you were going for a "Twilight Zone" sort of story, you could have kept the quasi-religious ending out entirely and made the "hell" more generic. Had I written the ending, I would have had Mark realize that he was responsible for killing all those people, becoming overwhelmed with grief, and forcing the cop to shoot him, reflecting on how Carl wanted Mark to shoot him in the beginning. You could have then set up a sequel with all the same actors playing different roles. In the sequel, the cop investigates the murders and begins to murder the other people while learning that everyone is trapped in a hellish cycle where the murderer dies and passes on the curse to his/her murderer. The cop realizes the only way to end the cycle is to kill himself to avoid passing on the curse. You could have ended the story in "the real world" with a few of the characters going on about their lives while giving each other suspicious looks as though they recognized each other, but were unsure why. I think that would have been a cool way to wrap up the story.
But, like I said, other than the ending, I thought this was a great movie. Keep up the fantastic work.
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i actually thing it build up to it pretty well. giving little hints here and there.
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I liked your movie and soundtrack in it
Why did not you mention in credits what music was used?
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Finally got to watch this all the way through, and I enjoyed it. It's cool to see Virtual Boyd with a larger role in something. I thought his performance was pretty haunting at times.
I didn't see the twist coming, either. My money was on brain tumor.
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I bought the DVD. I think everyone who watches cinemasnob shoul buy it since brad does provide alot of free entertainment.
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Hey i really liked this version. The music is very good. I liked the song on the DVD when everyone gets up and waves at you better tho it seemed creepier to me with the music on the DVD other than that one complaint it was a very good alternate version of the movie. I Plan on making a DVD out of it and putting it next to my other copy.
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I know you can't get all the credit on how this one looks Brad, but this really looks very Hitchcockian - especially the diner sequence. The black and white looks like an excellent choice - though I suppose I'll have to wait until I get my hands on the dvd before I can say whether it works better or not, but this still looks fantastic!
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I really enjoyed this movie, more so than any of the other movies I've seen in the theater in the past three months. Though I still think I liked Midnight Heat better. I thought the black and white was a cool touch, it really set the mood very well. And the ending is interesting and kind of thought provoking. The sound track was great as always.
Though there was one thing that bothered me, and it's only because I'm anal on the little thing in any movie I see (well that and I'm a bit of a gun nut, but mainly because I tend to focus on details. Sometimes to much). Well hear I go. For just about half of the movie Mark is walking around with Carl's gun in his jacket packet, that is not a packet pistol or a pea shooter it's a serous weapon, it ways about 2.5 lbs unloaded 3 lbs loaded. What I'm trying to say is that or any full sized gun is to heavy to be worn in a jacket pocket. It would way down the front of the jacket and easily "print" on any person. And it really did have anything to do with the story line at all, but it bugged me two or three times. Even with that it didn't take out of the movie or anything. The acting was great and the writing was fantastic. It was the only really folk I caught in the movie and it was just a detail.
I love the sight and all the stuff you guys do. My buddy showed me one of the snob videos and I've been hooked ever since. Keep it up and Good Luck.
P.S.
A waist band would hide the gun just fine for your purposes, and as long as the character is wearing a coat, jacket, etc. It wont show as much. As long as they aren't wearing taught clothing. Love everything keep it up and good luck.
Nathan
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Wow. This is really great! I've seen all of your videos including the stuff from "That guy with the glasses", and I must say, you have really proved yourself as a great actor in this.
^_^ You're awesome. Keep on keeping on.
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I kinda felt like Brad was the only really good actor out of the bunch (although Jillian did put on a good performance for the most part.)
The writing however kept me on the edge of my seat. It was definatley worth watching.
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Guilty Pleasure!
(Nice cameo of you I just saw
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I liked it, I guess? I really can't explain that without being spoilerific. Multiple movies will be partially spoiled.
This movie is what I call an "either or" movie. Shutter Island, for example, revolves around someone who is either legitimately investigating a disappearance or is crazy. Or worse, Inception, where in the end the protagonist is either awake or still dreaming.
This movie one ups that a bit, because from the outset either Mark is just crazy, Mark is the killer and crazy, or Mark is crazy and there is a killer that isn't him. This is a good start, but it falls apart for me when Mark starts shooting unarmed people. At that point, I could hear the Cinema Snob saying, "He's the killer," like in the Pieces review. That's where this movie fell apart for me.
The rest of the movie was just me waiting for the end like so many people who saw "The Village" in theaters. Come on, just get to the big reveal, don't show me more scenes that reinforce what I already know. Wait what, he's in hell?
The he's in hell ending did throw me, which is why I'm confused as to whether I like this movie or not. The church scene came out of nowhere; Religion wasn't a part of the movie til that point, except for the vague "stars are windows" scene. This was good stuff, except it opened up a can of worms in my head. Is insanity a ticket to hell?
The mood was good, the soundtrack was awesome(though uncredited), the actors were talented although a little too familiar, and the concept was excellent. But too much of this movie was me waiting for the next plot point.
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First let me start by saying, this is a good movie! The story makes sense, the dialog, for the most part is well written, and it never really gets boring.
Now can I add some constructive feedback?
I work on visual FX for big budget feature films. I have also been an editor for commercials and short films (also did some online work for District 9) I make a living on movies. So please don't think this is coming from an armchair enthusiast.
The issues I had were as follows. The audio mix is all over the place. The floor noise shoots up and down between cuts...it is very disjointed and jarring at times. The levels of dialogue also shifts from cut to cut. You should have a consistent room tone thru out your entire scene...or else it really takes you out of the moment!
The next thing I noticed was that the editing while really well done in some areas were just not paced too well, especially during dialogue...there were just a lot of beats that felt too long and made it sound too much like lines being delivered and less like an organic conversation. There were overlapped cuts...but they seemed to be random. Show more reactions. When I cut dialog I try to show reactions of the people listening, rather than always cutting to the talker...sometimes its better than the person talking. I also noticed a distinct lack of 2 shots. Its always one person or the other person...they are never in the same frame together...this makes it seem like they are not talking to each other....it makes it feel like they were filmed at separate times and cut together.
There was some wooden acting, but that is to be expected with a low budget indy...but good editing can usually fix that. Brad was quite good thru out the film and I feel that with a better editor this could be a very good movie! If you want to contact me I would be glad to take a look at it
As for characters. I didn't like the original guys voice at all...hes this big burly guy with the voice of a 12 year old...made him a lot less menacing....maybe it would help to dub in a better voice.
The soundtrack for the most part was composed of Brad's iPod playlist and Soundtrack Pro clips....I would look into revamping that!
Overall I was very impressed....a lot of low budget (as brad would call it) shot on shiteo indies can be horrible, but this was very entertaining and I would definitely recommend. Its just very rough and needs a professionals attention to make it marketable.
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I don't have an iPod. And it was original music, not soundtrack pro clips.
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For starters, none of that was meant to be insulting, so I'm sorry if you took it that way..I was trying to help with your film that obviously means a lot to you. What I meant by iPod was that all of the needle drop didn't belong at all and just sounded like your top 20 80's mix....so its a mix tape not an iPod. As for soundtrack pro, I am referring to the danger music that keeps appearing....I can find the track in STP and let you know which one I'm talking about, but I've used it many times as temp.
It is odd to me that the only thing you noticed was the music comment which really was not the most important part of what I said. Sorry, I work in production, so I am used to showing other people my work to get constructive feedback and taking what I'm told into consideration. But I understand getting defensive about something you are passionate about...so sorry if I offended you.
Anyway, as I said, its a great movie, but it needs work....read what I wrote previously if you care.
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Your comment did sound insulting and sarcastic. Have you never seen any of Brad's movies? He's done 6 of them and they all have soundtracks like that. The soundtracks are among the best things about his movies. This movie had a different director, so maybe the music seemed odd to some people, but in the films Brad did direct, the songs went along perfectly with the action.
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Ryan Mitchelle directed this movie, not Brad. Brad does a lot better as a director working with an 80's soundtrack than Ryan does, but I still loved the soundtrack to this movie. If you've seen Brad's other movies you'd know he doesn't just take music from an iPod or a "mix tape" as you put it. He puts time and effort into the music he uses; he just does it better than Ryan does. Whether it was your intent, your comment was a little insulting and very condescending.
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You'll have to talk to the movie's director and editor Ryan Mitchelle. I wasn't insulted by what you said =) But I don't just take whatever is on a mix tape and put it into the movie. I spend a great deal of time on the soundtracks to not just my movies, but also the shows on my site. The music of "Paranoia" has been there since I wrote the script years and years ago. It may seem odd in this movie because it's set to someone else's directing style other than mine, but all of the movies I've directed use music like this to go along with the mood of the scene. The music I use is extremely important to me, and not something I throw in out of the blue.
I'm really glad you liked the movie! Also I definitely appreciate your input. Feel free to contact Ryan about the more technical aspects of the movie.
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Seeing as how I have watched all of your films on your site I can absolutely accept that reasoning. Yes, all of your films music has always matched perfectly. This one just didn't, tho I do think the music is great...just not fitting to the story or setting.
The fact that there was someone else editing/directing explains a LOT! Since all of your videos have been very good and paced very well. If Ryan is interested in some honest feedback I would like to speak with him...because this really is a great film and with some extra attention it could very easily also be a marketable film.
I appreciate you commenting back btw Brad, I am a huge fan of the site and all the Channel Awesome contributors! Keep making awesome content!
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I disagree that the music didn't fit this movie. The sweet sax in "Harden My Heart" fit along perfectly with driving through the city, and "Driver's Seat" was a great addition to the restaurant. And "Don't Dream It's Over" worked wonders in the slow dance scene. Brad said that this movie was written to be like a music video or surreal 90's movie, and I totally got that vibe from it.
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I know it's a little late, but I just wanted to mention that the Edie Brickell track really stood out for me. I loved the eighties flavor, and What I Am is one of those songs I grew up listening to. Within the context of that scene, the lyrics of "What I Am" went from nonsensical and scattered to genuinely eerie.
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I've seen this plot in quite a few movies, and have been disappointed by it 9 times out of 10, but you made it work with Paranoia. It was a bit hard to follow here and there, but the clues were always there, the delusions were shared enough by the main character and the viewer that it all made sense by the end and I didn't feel cheated or kept out of the loop of what happened. I felt satisfied with the explanation and wrap-up of the movie and because of that I can walk away with the feeling of having seen a genuinely good film, rather than a would-be good film brought down by a deceiving cop-out twist ending. You've made this plot work where so many high budget films fell short of the mark and I applaud you for that, Brad and everybody who worked on this film. Thanks for doing this plot justice and showing that it CAN be done right.
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I preferred this version. It's much grittier, I also liked the choices of music. Gave the film a slightly surreal feel.
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Just started watching. I already like the pacing of your opening a little better. I own the DVD btw
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Very good. Reminded me particularly of INLAND EMPIRE in terms of the tone and surrealism. I think the style is a good fit for you guys.
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So whose bright idea was it to put in obvious foreshadowing for the DVD version? Obviously it wasn't Brad's, as none of that is in the writer's cut, and thank christ. As every critic who reviewed this movie said, the ridiculous amounts of foreshadowing made the DVD version predictable as hell. I really really like "the writer's cut." It's more intense, less predictable, grittier, and quicker paced.
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Wow, that was great. I was really hooked too. A movie hasn't hooked me that hard in a while. Didn't see that ending coming at all.
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oh man, this movie was awesome.
you did a really good job. it kind of take me out of the movie the fact that i was picturing you making the Snob. jaja
i thing Mr Richard has a lot of good points btw. hear him out. might help you.
but despite that? your movie was excelent, and i usually dont like indy films. but this one works really well.
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This movie was definitely fun to watch, I found it to be very engaging and entertaining. I will say that I found the whole resolution to be a bit of a disappointment, it just seemed like the movie was building up to something more bizarre than what you ultimately went with and the ending made me think that you didn't get to know the main character at all even though you were with him the whole movie.
Don't get me wrong though, the movie is still far from bad, but I still think Hooker with a Heart of Gold is your best film so far, in fact if you edited that one down to feature length it would be worthy of a release. I still can't wait to see the Cinemasnob movie!
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It totally was worth it. I wished you had the permission and rights to release this version on DVD too, Brad. It's different. The soundtrack-choices were very good. They enhanced the sadness of the character's inescapable destiny in a very pleasant way and made the movie just enough melodramatic at the end to end "Paranoia" right. I loved it. To me it's a little classic already.
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I was really looking forward to this movie. A whole hell of a lot, actually. And... I dunno. For starters, I've never really been a fan of those kind of endings, which probably didn't help.
That and the fact that they just kinda come out and explain the whole mess really bothers me.
They make it seem like there's no ambiguity to it, that it's all set in stone. There's a little room for interpretation, but not as much as there should have been for a movie like this.
Having said that, all the little scenes leading up to it are really awesome, and range from creepy to tense in all the right ways.
But still... It just feels all wrong with that climax...
But I did find the scene at the end with Mark and the taxi driver to be very heart breaking, in some strange way.
Oh, and Charon?
Nice one Brad. Your symbolism makes me have some faith for cinema. Every one did a bang up job, as usual.I am curious as to the nature of the changes in cuts, so I'll have to look in to that.
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good show, sir
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It was okay. It seemed like a cheap knockoff of American Psycho to me. A guy going around killing people, losing his mind, it's definitely been done before. The only difference is in American Psycho no one actually died, it was all in his head. I think Hooker With A Heart Of Gold was a much better film and much more original. I'm glad I was able to see it, but not something I'd want to watch again.
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It's never made explicit if the murders Patrick Bateman committed were real or not. All throughout the movie there's a thread of mistaken identity. It could have easily have been that. I think this movie has more in common with Shutter Island than American Psycho in that both of the main characters are forced to come to terms with their past. I don't see too much Psycho in this. And I liked Hooker better too, at any rate.
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Actually it did. When he was on the phone he found out one of the people he thought he killed was on vacation. And yeah, I can see Shutter Island in it. Just haven't seen either film in a very long time. It was decent, but not nearly as good as Brad's other works.
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I wrote this movie 2 or 3 years before I saw "American Psycho." It's not a cheap knock off, "American Psycho" was nowhere in my head when I wrote this.
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I did use the word "seemed". I wasn't implying that you directly ripped it off. Just to me it felt like it had inspiration from it with a few changes. It wasn't a horrible movie, it just wasn't as good as some of your other movies is all.
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It didn't have any inspiration from "American Psycho." It's pretty much inspired by a lot of the non-linear, indie thrillers from the 90s, some stuff like "Pi" or "Lost Highway." It was also written to have a music video feel from that era. Regardless of all that, I like "Hooker" better too =)
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Well the thing is that American Psycho may have had inspirations from those films as well. It was just a vibe I got from it is all. You should make a sequel to Hooker With A Heart Of Gold called A Pimp With Brass Balls, lol!
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"American Psycho" was written well before those movies that Brad mentioned. Stop trying to say that he was inspired off of "American Psycho." The two movies are absolutely nothing alike. They both have killers in them, and there's twists at the end; two completely different twists and contexts.
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You guys just keep getting better at using your resources. I was really impressed by how strong the material was. I'm not blowing smoke up your ass by saying that around halfway through, you had me fully engaged and legitimately at a loss to how the story would wrap up. This is a rare and precious thing among even the very best movies released every year.
Someone learned and applied a few lessons from David Lynch very well.
Bravo and thanks for making it. In my opinion, it deserves to be seen.
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So I finally saw both the DVD version and this version of the movie, and there's things I liked and didn't like from both cuts.
First, though, my favorite and least favorite tiny details from Paranoia. My favorite was the whiteboard in Carl's house that has "I'm sorry" written on it. I thought that was a really great minor background thing that foreshadows the actual Carl's apology for causing Mark to become a killer and also kinda covers Mark's own admittance to wanting to say he was sorry to his victims (in the DVD cut). My least favorite was the "Charon's Taxi Service" sign. Up until the church scene, it's very debatable and open to interpretation on whether Mark's actually in Hell or if he's really just insane and it's all in his head. Even through the church scene and exposition climax, though, you can still kinda debate whether it's Hell or not. Once you see "Charon's Taxi Service", though, I feel like it just got cemented into being 'yep, he's in Hell', cause it's flat-out stating that Jerrid is the ferrymen taking Mark back to start the night over. From the DVD commentaries it seems like you all intended that to be pretty obvious and certain by the end from the start, but I dunno, I personally would've enjoyed a far more open-to-interpretation and unanswered ending.
Now, there were some differences between the DVD and this version that I liked and didn't like. One major thing I preferred in the Writer's Cut is the faster cuts and edits and the trimmed scenes. The DVD version is great but I did feel like a lot of scenes dragged just a little too long and I thought maybe 5-8 minutes of trimming could've been done, which is essentially what you did in the Writer's Cut. I did think that you ended up trimming a little too much (such as Jerrid's bathroom dialogue and some of the church scene dialogue) and made a few scenes/cuts go a little too fast (like your dragging of Carl's body at the start), but overall I liked the cuts here better. I also enjoyed the B/W over the color, as it serves to hide some things (your feet not leaving the ground before the cut when you jumped out of the way of the car) and gives it a certain better feel than the color version (sorta Freak Out-ish in that way).
What I didn't like, and it pains me to say, was the soundtrack. Not saying you don't do great soundtracks, because I usually really like the soundtracks you do (I LOVE Hooker with a Heart of Gold's soundtrack), but I think Skitch's score just worked better for this type of movie. The 80s pop music just seemed to work better in stuff like Hooker or Midnight Heat as opposed to this for the most part. It's kinda like how Freak Out went without music a lot of the time, or if there was music, it was from an actual in-movie source like the boombox. The pop music worked in the restaurant for that reason, but otherwise, I definitely preferred the atmospheric Skitch score better for this movie.
Overall, great movie! Not my favorite but definitely a good o
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DUDE! This shit was like, right up there with the likes of Fight Club! Seriously, BADASS, man!
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This was realy realy good i have watched this three times now and its just gets better and better! a little hitchcock isnt it? keep up the good work hope to see a new film somday soon
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The real scene stealer of this film is the incomparable Jerrid Foiles in his inspired turn as Man in Bathroom Stall / Taxi Driver. Foiles delivers a tour de force with his ghoulish presence, sinister timing, and excellent understanding of the material. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought him to be an escaped mental patient and not a brilliant actor.
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So everyone's Jesus in purgatory?
Jokes aside, this was pretty good
Well acted, had a good atmosphere, well used songs
To be fair, I expected a twist ending right from the start, so I was a bit disappointed by how generic the ending twist was
I was expecting something more elaborate. At one moment I thought it was a "kill the murderer and take his place" kind of story
Still, I really enjoyed myself all the way trough
Definitely a "like"
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For some reason the use of pop music in this combined with such dark subject matter really brought to mind the frequent references to pop songs in the writing of Brett Easton Ellis. I wonder if that was in any way an influence?
Anyway, I was really impressed by this. To be totally honest I wasn't particularly blown away when I saw the trailer but the use of black and white here really gives everything a classy, sort of timeless vibe. Very well paced too, it really draws you in.
"Charon's Taxi Service" brought a wry smile to my face as well.
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Ive been working on my first live action film, is it strange if your films have inspired and motivated me to go into film making?
and when i feel like its hopeless i watch one of your films and feel like anything is possible
im sure this is not the first time you've inspired someone
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Hey i have worked on an action clay animation movie motivated by brad amongst others too; so your not the first to be inspired at the very least
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It would be strange if you didn't get inspired by him. I've been thinking about making my own films for a while but Brad's films have more or less convinced me that I should do it.
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I guessed the twighlight zone twist within 5 minutes. That said, the production values were high - the sound on the songs drowned out the acting somewhat that needs toning down in future and the writing of the last 20 minutes was pretty exposition heavy, it could've shown more and said less, but it's a solid effort.
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Twists are not mandatory, if an original one doesn't pop into your head. The diner scene was great and a story about the events that happen in it could have made a good story in itself.
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You are way too kind, Brad.
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0_o my god that was awesome. I mean I have a few nitpicky complaints but I'M TOO BLOWN AWAY.
!!SPOILERS!! Funny thing is I thought Mark was the killer at the very beginning, just because that's how these things goes. But it was sort of a guess in the back of my mind, and why I thought he might be the killer I certainly couldn't peace together how. By the 50 minute mark when shit start to just get plain confusing as fuck(and depressing and stressful), I just laughed and was like oh fuck he's in Silent Hill. Considering Silent Hill is basically hell, I was right. But I was still sad and shocked when it was actually pieced together. I was just like OF COURSE.
Anyway amazing amazing work. I absolutely adore it, and I'm jealous. I'm not sure I could write something as clever or compelling, though I'd really like to.
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Ok, thuis was one of the best movies I have ever seen. I admit, the acting made me dislike this film in the first twenty minutes, but then I was just grabbed and I couldn't stop watching. This movie is truly incredible, and I applaud.
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I recently purchased and viewed 'Paranoia' on DVD.
It was worth every cent.
Thanks for including the commentary tracks. I'm one of those few that actually take the time to listen to them if I actually dig the flick. If I had any complaint at all it would be that the writer's cut isn't included in the DVD package. It is awesome that you posted it on your site for free, but I would still love to have an official hard copy of it, especially since this is a film that I think works far better in B&W.
The only major change I would have made to the film's story is at the end. After he leaves the church, gets in the cab, forgets everything and heads home (fade to black), I would have had him arrive at home and go crash completely exhausted into his bed.
It is then that we transition from him sleeping in his bed at home to him asleep and restrained in some sort of technological pod or cocoon, perhaps somewhat similar to the sleep chambers in 'Alien' or even 'The Matrix'.
Here we discover that he is not actually dead and in hell, but rather a convicted murderer stored in a prison of the future where he is kept alive but in a comatose state where he is forced to relive this nightmare again and again as the ultimate punishment for his heinous crimes.
Adds a bit more of a sci-fi twist to the whole thing, which clearly isnt what you were going for, but I think it might have worked.
Let me know what ya think.
Anyway, I have to say it is so refreshing to find films out there that, even if they may borrow from films that came before them, aren't flat out calling themselves "Remakes" or "Sequel/Prequels" and basically just trying to just cash in on a property that has already been proven to pay off. Sadly most of hollywood is run by uncreative, number-crunching suits, with no balls and no vision.
Keep on doing what you do.
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Vanilla Sky anyone?
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I prefer 'Abre los Ojos', thank you very much.
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This was excellent. It's like an hour and half Twilight Zone episode (which I'm sure was intentional.) If Rod Serling saw this today Brad, he'd shake your hand and offer you one of his cigarettes.
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I enjoyed both versions of Paranoia. I liked the suspense, the acting, how it was written and the cinematography throughout.
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