PROVOKR PICK: PARADISE HILLS
Emma Roberts Must Escape Utopia
Somewhere out there exists a magical island called Paradise and its school is called Paradise Hills. It’s where rebellious young women are sent to study under the tutelage of a woman known as The Duchess (Milla Jovovich). What is it these young women have been sent to learn? They’re in training to become proper women. In addition to etiquette lessons, the island’s environment also provides emotional support for those in need. Uma (Emma Roberts) awakens to find herself on this mystical island, unsure of how she got there, but taken in by the island’s idyllic nature. She soon learns all is not as it seems and the island harbors dark secrets that threaten to destroy Uma and the others.
Joining Emma Roberts in her journey to break free of the horrors simmering beneath the surface of this Eden are Danielle Macdonald, Awkwafina, and Eiza González. Will they be able to escape or will they consumed by the island? Who is The Duchess? Is she real or merely an illusion? Those questions can only be answered by watching the film. It is seductively directed by Alice Waddington from a script written by Brian DeLeeuw and Nacho Vigalondo.
The trailer teases that Paradise Hills is a feminist-themed flip on the fairytales we’ve grown up with. The plot offers princesses the tools needed to take control of their own destiny. There’s also an added dose of science fiction thrown in for good measure. Who doesn’t love a good subversive retelling of a classic genre? This one had its world premiere on January 26, 2019 at Sundance Film Festival. Its distribution rights were quickly scooped up by Samuel Goldwyn Pictures.
Paradise Hills opens in theatres on Friday, October 25, 2019.
