Overview
A haunting exploration of guilt and adolescence unfolds in the shadows of a skate park.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- melancholic
- dreamy
- haunting
- reflective evening
- indie film night
What critics said
Critics broadly acclaimed Gus Van Sant's elliptical, visually beautiful, and emotionally precise portrait of adolescent guilt and anxiety.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Alex's written account moves between his present anxiety, earlier encounters at Paranoid Park, and the fatal rail-yard incident.
Alex writes about the death and his guilt in an attempt to relieve his conscience.
The film follows Alex's anxiety, family separation, sexual uncertainty, and guilt with a restrained, credible focus on teenage life.
Skateboarding and the Portland landscape are presented through dreamy camera work and highly composed imagery.
Films like Paranoid Park, and why
Elephant
elliptical coming of age drama focused on alienated youth, guilt, and fractured chronology
Mysterious Skin
quietly devastating adolescent drama combining realism, trauma, and formally distinctive editing
Wendy and Lucy
intimate independent coming of age film about teen alienation and emotionally difficult choices
Kids
stylized youth drama with disaffected teenagers, male friendship, and an atmospheric American setting
Movie Details
- Director
- Gus Van Sant
- Release Date
- 2007-07-12
- Runtime
- 85 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (625)
Cast
- Gabe Nevins
- Dan Liu
- Jake Miller
- Taylor Momsen
- Lauren McKinney
- Scott Patrick Green
- John Michael Burrowes
- Grace Carter
- Jay 'Smay' Williamson
- Christopher Doyle
Common questions
- What is Paranoid Park about?
- A Portland skateboarder’s secret connection to a fatal rail-yard accident turns teenage alienation into a haunting study of guilt.
- What is Paranoid Park like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Paranoid Park as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Paranoid Park violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Paranoid Park as moderate.
- What did critics think of Paranoid Park?
- Critics broadly acclaimed Gus Van Sant's elliptical, visually beautiful, and emotionally precise portrait of adolescent guilt and anxiety.
- Which films are like Paranoid Park?
- Films with a similar feel include Elephant, Mysterious Skin, Wendy and Lucy, and Kids.
- How long is Paranoid Park?
- Paranoid Park runs 85 minutes.
