‘Sweet screams’
Paralysis is a 2022 American horror film about a young woman who experiences hallucinations and nightmares after a family trauma.
Written, directed by and co-starring Levi Austin Morris. Produced by Jamie Tobias. The movie also stars Allison Lobel, Lisagaye Tomlinson, Bethany Koulias, Emerson Gregor, Melissa Ortiz, Ann Kathleen Jensen and Sammy T. Anderson.
Plot synopsis:
After family trauma, Haley Stone (Allison Lobel) has isolated herself from everyone except her brother Nicky (Levi Austin Morris). But with her complicated grief and emotional well-being deteriorating, Haley experiences hallucinations, vivid nightmares and debilitating episodes of sleep paralysis.
These episodes become ever more pressing when Haley notices bruises on her body. She suspects the entity that visits her in the night is not just a figment of her imagination. With the assistance of a paranormal investigator, Haley must access the truth buried between realities and free herself from this living nightmare…
Reviews:
“The general plot might remind you of a few popular big-budget chillers and there are a couple of unpolished moments where, for example, the camera is jostled by something happening in a scene, but the film’s rock-solid realization still struck me. The overall impression left by the experience is that it is the result of young but talented artists and not amateurs.” CineDump
“The characters feel lived in and the dialogue between them is realistic. Morris’s screenplay nicely balances drama concerning mental illness and family with eerie horror elements. Shot with an iPhone by Morris and Emerson Gregori, the cinematography is solid, and the film boasts some imaginative framing to accompany classic fear-fare set-ups.” Horror Fuel
“Paralysis will not be for everyone, especially those expecting a film that aims to be scary […] This more uses the idea of the supernatural as a way to explore the grieving process, that is presented well here, helped by the mournful soundtrack. A little slow-paced at times, but nonetheless, this was a solid indie horror.” 7 out of 10, The Rotting Zombie
“With only three major characters plus a few voices on the telephone, a lot of the film’s success depends on the performances, especially that of Lobel who is frequently alone on screen. She’s quite convincing as a woman caught in a multi-level nightmare […] My only real issue with Paralysis is some of the scenes could have used a bit of trimming.” 4 out of 5, Voices from the Beyond
Trailer:
Technical specs:
1 hour 48 minutes (!)
