Paragon Review

Paragon is a 2021 feature film directed by Michael Kumar.

Combining a psychological thriller against the backdrop of an adventure for a legendary crystal, Paragon doesn’t always hit the mark but still has some powerful moments throughout.

This is a film that feels stuck between two places. On one hand, it is a story that could fill an even longer feature film. On the other, in its current state it is a little too stretched thin with the material given.

It is an interesting dilemma as all three men share a good contrasting dynamic from one another. The way it is right now there is a case where cutting the run time down to something like 30 minutes might help keep from some of the more repetitive moments. For instance, around the second act there becomes a bit too much of a reliance on a bit of travel time with some music (splendid music used throughout) and then some philosophical talking.

It picks up again by the third act and ultimately there is a satisfying if not rushed conclusion by the end. That is where the circle continues on in that some parts needed to be tightened, whereas others given a bit more credence in the unfolding narrative.

The cinematography of the film is gorgeous, though. Giving a view of some wonderful vistas and utilizing available lighting to an impressive effect. Given this being such a small crew, there is a lot to applaud here.

The elephant in the room though, again especially throughout our slices of journey, has to be some of the audio mixing. Given the natural locale with running rapids, there is no getting around how tough this is to capture audio from. The fact that the audio is still passable is quite an achievement. However, it needs to be mentioned that at certain points the rushing water was a distraction from the conversations on-screen.

As mentioned, Paragon is a film stuck in two places, one where it needs a bit more meat to be a full-fledged feature, or some of the excess shaved off to be a stronger extended short. There are a lot of significant themes at play and the core narrative of the Kleodora crystal will keep you engaged, there are also a few places that will test you as well. If you enjoy films with a bit of mystery, thrills, and even an underbelly of horror, it is all here but just a few slower spots to wade through.

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Cheers!

Daniel Hess

Film Festival and Award Highlights:

Bridge Fest

Iconic Images Film Festival

Mabig Film Festival

Montreal Independent Film Festival

New York International Film Awards

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