Olga Kurylenko and Harvey Keitel star in the non-stop action thrill ride that is Paradox Effect. Photo: Supplied.
Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can, sometimes, have detrimental consequences – as is the case with a young mother in the non-stop action thriller Paradox Effect.
The extremes a parent will go to to save her family are palpably noticeable when her child is held hostage and survival means everything.
From the dynamic production duo behind Ferrari and The Ritual Killer (Monika Bacardi and Andrea Iervolino), the film stars Harvey Keitel, who is captivating a new generation of audiences in The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and Olga Kurylenko, best known for playing the role of a Bond girl, Camille Montes, in Quantum of Solace in 2008.
Paradox Effect delves into a treacherous situation that challenges a guiltless woman when she is forced to confront a dangerous kingpin who has kidnapped her young daughter, Lucy (Alice Astons), and is holding her for ransom.
An ex-junkie, Karina (played by Kurylenko, Extraction 2) gets trapped in an inimitable situation after witnessing a murder: just as she’s leaving work one night, Karina hears the discharge of a muted weapon and a body break through heavy glass. She inadvertently looks up and locks eyes with the man, Covek (Oliver Trevena, The Bricklayer, Plane), who had pulled the trigger.
Karina is captured, following a chase, and held captive. Having seen the assassin’s face, he holds her at gunpoint and commands her to do whatever he needs done through the long night. Covek hides a mystery behind his relentless pursuit of the man who’s taken something from him.
Estranged from Lucy because of mistakes in her past, Karina is held to account and forced to cooperate with the killer so she can save her daughter’s life. She is trying hard to be the mother she needs to be, including doing double shifts and late nights, but she becomes embroiled in a situation that threatens her whole world.
Being a hostage inadvertently sets Covek and Karina on a collision course with ruthless crime boss Silvio (Keitel, Bugsy, The Piano). Now, she must fight against time, the police and the criminal underworld to save the one person she cares most about.
Silvio uses his vicious gangsters and calculated wit to force them both to go on a journey against time. Their choice is obvious: either give the crime boss what he wants in return for the lives of those they love, or resolve to end their night in a bloody attempt at revenge. She teams up with a corrupt Interpol agent, whose son is also being held hostage, to con various criminals to raise the money to help buy their offspring out of captivity.
Before Karina can see her daughter again, she must fight against time, the police, dealers, her old life as a drug user, and the criminal underworld. Together they have one hour to save their families from the wrath of a bigwig. It is a long night!
Set against a backdrop of high action, cars, cops and fights, this is a cinematic journey into the realms of suspense and emotion. Keitel brings depth and nuance to his character, while Kurylenko’s Karina is portrayed with truth and understanding, managing to flick from the darkest moments to the highest high with subtleness.
Covek’s performance as a compromised Interpol agent adds complexity to the film’s interactive storyline. Romano Reggiani (Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend) as Enzo is another cast member who adds to the fun home entertainment experience.
This is the feature-film debut for director Scott Weintrob, who previously worked in the short and documentary formats. Known for pushing the creative boundaries of cinematic artistry, he is a transformative storyteller.
With a prolific career spanning acclaimed works in music videos, advertisements and documentaries (Home, Savage x Fenty), Weintrob has a knack for captivating audiences with a rare blend of storytelling and the embodiment of authentic street culture.
Paradox Effect, directed by Scott Weintrob, Defiant Screen Entertainment, out on digital and DVD
