PARADISE HILLS (2019) Movie Review

"Paradise Hills" is a disturbing mix between "The Stepford Wives" and "the Island of Dr. Moreau".

In a troubling future where the divide between upper and lower class becomes even wider, the expectations of society become too strict to endure. Thus, a "therapeutic" retreat for rebellious upper-class girls springs up to capitalize on those impossible expectations. The Duchess, the mistress of this program, boasts a 100% success rate for reprogramming feisty girls into submissive women through a controversial form of therapy on a secluded island. On its surface, the school is a glorified retreat complete with yoga, special diets, and reflection. On her surface, The Duchess is the kindest, most patient woman alive. Yet, something much darker simmers beneath the surface of both this woman and her program.

In this fascinating commentary on society's expectations, "Paradise Hills" compares an unformidable girl to a thorned rose. All one must do is strip away the thorns, and the girl is miraculously healed. Of course, life is not so simple. Humanity is complex. No amount of yoga and strolls in the garden can erase the experiences that mold us into our unique, wonderfully made selves. What "Paradise Hills" seeks to do is strip away all that makes a woman unique and turn her into a pretty doll.

That concept doesn't sit well with our four heroines Uma, Amarna, Chloe, and Yu. Each girl is sent to the island for a different reason. Yet, they share the same treatment and the same dark fate. They risk losing their identities. What sets them apart from all other students is their determination. They don't want to change, and they have help. Each girl holds onto a token, an object or feature that keeps them grounded. Uma carries a locket. Amarna smokes. Chloe wears her unique shape like a shield. Yu listens to music with wireless headphones she never removes. This strategy makes them hard to crack, which is very taxing on The Duchess' patience.

As it turns out, the sweetest rose has the sharpest thorns. The only difference is that she attempts to conceal her dark side. The entire island is one big concealed thorn that the girls must escape before their identities are completely stripped away and they die. Whats remains is an empty shell of a woman. A clone. A sell-out. A lie.

Real women embrace their thorns. We must not prune them. They are a part of who we are. To strip away our thorns is to strip away our identity. Our thorns protect us from the world's greater threats. From false, dangerous people like The Duchess.

Praise the Lord for making you unique. Don't let anyone strip away any part of you: joy, pride, sorrow, comfort, anger, and suspicion. They all serve you well.