
Movie spotlight
Paranoia
Short film using the paranoia of Richard Nixon to explore how a similar outlook on life has been propagated on a larger social scale in the new media age and the resulting moral panics and immobilisation of politics. Screen during the fourth episode of the second series of Charlie Brooker's Newswipe.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young and ambitious security system installer gets entangled in a high-stakes corporate espionage game. He is forced by his manipulative boss to spy on a rival company, finding himself caught between powerful executives and a woman he begins to care for. As the stakes rise, he must navigate a dangerous world of betrayal and deception to survive and protect those he loves.
Critical Reception
Paranoia received largely negative reviews from critics. While some acknowledged the star power of its cast and a potentially intriguing premise, most found the film to be a derivative and uninspired thriller that failed to deliver on its potential. Audiences were similarly unimpressed, leading to a disappointing box office performance.
What Reviewers Say
Lacks originality and relies heavily on tired thriller tropes.
Despite a strong cast, the film fails to generate genuine suspense or compelling character development.
A forgettable and predictable corporate thriller.
Google audience: Audience reviews indicate a general disappointment with the film's predictable plot and lack of originality. While a few found the performances of Gary Oldman and Harrison Ford noteworthy, many felt the story was uninspired and failed to live up to the potential suggested by its cast.
Fun Fact
The film's screenplay was adapted from the 2004 novel of the same name by Joseph Finder.
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