One of the motifs we find, especially in 80s horror, is be careful what you wish for.
Colin Treneff’s short Paragon sees a young MIT student create a computer program that can predict the future. This being a horror film, I’m guessing the future ain’t bright.
While not as unhinged as something like Evilspeak, starring Clint Howard, Treneff is clearing pitching for a nostalgia-loving audience who may even remember these types of computers or floppy disks. Yes, Gen Z, floppy disks were a thing.
What our student quickly discovers is that his new program has become a bit too smart for its own good.
What he finds is that the so-called predictions from Paragon are a bit too detailed to be fabricated, and we as the audience know all of these horrendous acts will come to pass. It really paints a grim picture of the human race.
Anyone who listens to conspiracy theory podcasts, will lap up Paragon, which essentially creates a gripping storyline mainly with one character sat at a desk.
Paragon feels like it could be the cold open to a classic X Files episode, which as a big fan of that show, is high praise. The score is also fantastic with a synthetic beat pulsating throughout, to help make scenes even more intense.
This was an engrossing watch.
Paragon screens as part of Fantasia Fest 2023.
Bloody Flicks 