In the sci fi crime thriller Paprika, a dream detective races to save the world from a terrorist attack on the collective subconscious as the lines between fantasy and reality literally collapse. It’s both populist and psychedelic, a direct continuation of the themes Satoshi Kon explored in Perfect Blue, as well as his most coherent bid for mainstream success.
It’s also Satoshi Kon’s final film, and that it’s so entertaining only makes Ian and Joseph even more frustrated as they imagine a world where Kon’s career continued. Along the way, Ian and Joseph talk about the film’s unnerving parallels with Christopher Nolan’s Inception, make peace with Kon’s body image issues, and more.
Recap: 00:00
Analysis: 07:02
Links: A 5-Star Review of 'Paranoia Agent' by Alyssa Heflin (https://letterboxd.com/rhefs/film/paranoia-agent/)