PARANOID PARK belongs to Gus Van Sant’s pensive set of films similar to RHINOCEROS EYES, ELEPHANT and GERRY where audiences get to relate to Van Sant’s characters no matter how different they are.  The protagonist in PARANOID PARK is a skater kid, Alex (Gabe Navin) living in Portland with his single mother (Grace Carter) and in contact with his father (Jay Williamson).  After an excursion on a Saturday night at what locals term PARANOID PARK, a security guard (John Michael Burrowes) is viciously killed and foul is suspected.  The kids are called from their classis in school and questioned by a concerned and well experienced detective (Richard Liu).

Whether the boy is guilty or not or whether the guilty party is caught is not the prime concern of director/wrier Van Sant.  The purpose of the movie is an examination of the trauma affecting the kid and how he reacts to it in the midst of family friends and situations.  The major impact is his casual sexual affair with a girl (Lauren McKinney) who is puzzled at his standoffish-ness.

Van Sant’s movies are always scored with a great soundtrack.  In PARANOID PARK, Van Sant uses a number of Italian Nino Rota’s scores from JUILETTE OF THE SPIRITS combined with contemporary to suit the film’s theme on contemporary youth.  The grainy skateboarding sequences gorgeously photographed by master cinematographer, Christopher Doyle create a dream like atmosphere like one that Alex would probably like to escape to.  One of the best segments in the film involve the detective questioning the kids.  It is a clash of cultures.  Van Sant has done his homework well in the questioning techniques and the responses offered in return.

What really happened is indicated by a flashback in the middle of the film.  In movies, flashbacks never lie.  Only Hitchcock dared have one which did not tell the truth – and that led to disastrous complaints.  Still, the deed remains non-judgmental in who is guilty or not. 

PARANOID PARK dealing with horror, beauty and innocence brings youth to connect with death.  It is a disturbing and comfortable ride for Alex and a mesmerizing one for viewers of this occasionally brilliant film.