Paranoid

Paranoid

Year: 2000

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Director: Ash Smith

ThrillerHorror

A group of high‑school seniors stage a haunted house attraction to fund their senior trip, but when three people are murdered, they must race against time to uncover the serial killer before the attraction is forced to close. They scramble through the maze of props and scares, questioning classmates and confronting hidden motives, determined to stop the murderer and keep their fundraiser alive.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Paranoid (2000)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Paranoid (2000). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary (21st century)

The events unfold in present-day settings, with modern technology and social dynamics driving the thriller. Fashion industry events, mobile communications, and surveillance-like elements anchor the timeline in the current era. The pacing relies on real-time calls, tapes, and sudden shifts in trust.

Location

New York, Brighton, a former hotel house

The film moves between glamorous urban spaces, including fashion shows in New York, and intimate social circles in Brighton. Much of the tension centers around a secluded house that used to be a hotel, which Chloe is trapped inside. The contrast between public glamour and private danger reinforces the paranoid atmosphere of the story.

❗ Urban fashion 🎬 Thriller 🏚️ Isolated location 🔗 Stalking and manipulation

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:06

Main Characters – Paranoid (2000)

Meet the key characters of Paranoid (2000), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Chloe Keene (Jessica Alba)

A successful fashion model who becomes the target of a stalker and a toxic social circle. She navigates a hostile mix of manipulation, surveillance, and sexual coercion. Resourceful and determined, she fights to break free from the trap around her.

👗 Fashion model 👀 Targeted 🛡️ Resilient

Toby (Oliver Milburn)

Chloe's boyfriend and a musician whose charm masks controlling tendencies. He appears supportive but is revealed to be another stalker, complicating Chloe's efforts to trust anyone. His manipulation amplifies the danger she faces.

🎷 Musician 🗝️ Manipulator

Ned (Gary Love)

Chloe's other boyfriend who arranges the reunion and participates in the scheme against her. He embodies deceit within a close relationship, helping to trap Chloe in a web of lies. His actions escalate the threat Chloe endures.

💼 Conspirator 🔒 Control

Stan

The host who drugs Chloe and drives the group’s plan to capture her. He exerts a chilling authority within the social circle and orchestrates the setup in the former hotel house. His leadership hinges on fear and dominance.

👑 Manipulator 🎭 Host

Rachel (Jeanne Tripplehorn)

Stan's wife, rude to Chloe and part of the conspiracy. She helps hide the incriminating evidence and participates in the scheme to keep Chloe in check. Her involvement reveals how appearances hide complicity.

🤝 Co-conspirator 💼 Social climber

Theresa (Mischa Barton)

Stan's deaf daughter who becomes a moral counterpoint within the family dynamic. She discovers tapes and ultimately aids Chloe by signaling the danger, offering a glimmer of hope amid the peril.

🧏 Deaf character 🤝 Ally

Gordon (Ewen Bremner)

Stan's brother who films the party and helps cover up the events. His presence intensifies the danger as he participates in the group's efforts to obscure what happened. He embodies the complicity of bystanders.

🎬 Film crew 🗡️ Aggressor

Eve (Gina Bellman)

Ned's wife who contributes to the cruel dynamics by encouraging the plan and expressing malicious hostility toward Chloe. She embodies the dark side of the couple's social circle.

💔 Domestic cruelty 🧪 Co-conspirator

Clive (Kevin Whateley)

The silent stalker whose calls persist as Chloe seeks help. He becomes a potential ally by guiding the police toward the truth, and his actions help drive the confrontation toward resolution.

📞 Silent stalker 🕵️ Outsider

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:06

Major Themes – Paranoid (2000)

Explore the central themes of Paranoid (2000), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👁️ Stalking

A relentless atmosphere of pursuit drives the narrative, with both a voicemail stalker and a circle of conspirators monitoring Chloe. The threat is intimate, exploiting routine moments and private spaces. The film uses surveillance and fear to create a pervasive sense of paranoia.

🔗 Control

Power dynamics within a privileged social circle push characters toward coercion and complicity. Loyalties are tested as individuals trade truth for self-preservation. The group's plans escalate from manipulation to murderous intent.

🛡️ Survival

Chloe's attempts to escape showcase resilience and quick thinking under pressure. Interventions by outsiders and law enforcement pivot the story toward rescue and accountability. The ending hints at consequences for those who enable abuse.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:06

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Deadly High School Thrillers like Paranoid

Teenagers plunged into deadly conspiracies within their own social circles.If you enjoyed the high-stakes suspense of 'Paranoid,' explore other movies where teenagers confront a killer within their school. These films combine the tension of a thriller with the volatile dynamics of high school, creating stories of murder, mystery, and survival among classmates.

anxiousparanoidsuspensefulbetrayaldeadlyteen thrillerrace against time

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically begin with a seemingly innocent event or school function that spirals into a deadly situation. The protagonists, often students, must use their knowledge of the social landscape to identify a hidden threat, leading to a frantic race against time where trust is a liability.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared setting of a high school under siege, the fast-paced unraveling of a mystery, and the theme of youthful innocence corrupted by immediate, life-threatening danger. The vibe is one of anxious paranoia within a supposedly safe environment.

Bleak Psychological Thrillers like Paranoid

Stories of psychological dread that offer no safe haven or happy endings.For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight and bleak conclusion of 'Paranoid,' this collection features similar psychological thrillers. These films delve into themes of stalking, manipulation, and captivity, often culminating in an ending that provides no resolution or safety for the protagonist.

unsettlingoppressiveclaustrophobicpsychological dreadmenacingbleak endingheavy

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character, often isolated or vulnerable, who becomes the target of a relentless psychological attack. The story escalates through a series of terrifying revelations and betrayals, eroding the character's sense of reality and security, and culminates in a resolution that underscores the inescapable nature of their peril.

Why These Movies?

They share a core experience of intense psychological dread, a heavy emotional weight, and a fundamentally bleak outlook. The tone is consistently tense and oppressive, prioritizing a deeply unsettling atmosphere and a conclusion that denies catharsis.

Unlock the Full Story of Paranoid

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Paranoid Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Paranoid, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Paranoid Summary

Paranoid Timeline

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Paranoid Timeline

Paranoid Spoiler-Free Summary

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Paranoid Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Paranoid

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More About Paranoid

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