Fundamentally, man is a disgusting, violent, insane cretinous monster, and left to their own devices, they can commit some cruel deeds and incredibly awful acts on one another. “Paradise Hills” is not only a look at man in all of their flaws, but also an interesting glimpse at the perverse and limitless nature of reality television. “Paradise Hills” had every chance to take a turn for the worse as an awful and despicable film, but surely enough Cohen fills the story with enough intelligence and wit to make it an awful and despicable but rather engrossing dramedy that often borders on being a sheer thriller. This is not just a dramedy about a mixed and matched family with some secrets and skeletons in the closet, but Cohen strives in providing a wonderful experiment in human nature displaying all its ugliness and begging all kinds of questions to the audience.

These folks find themselves the target of a reality show without their knowledge and end up as basic test animals in a controlled environment with neighbors, friends, and confidants all aspect of the grand reality show they’re being involved in. But then Cohen tends to turn the tables and asks if the battles and discord ensuing just the inevitable coming to pass, or mere results of outside interference. In the arguments and boiling tension, is it all fact or fiction? Is there someone in the family in on the entire plan, most importantly, who among the brood is a monster? Then as the layers of unresolved issues and tension unfold among the narrative, “Paradise Hills” becomes much less of a dramedy and then really tightens the noose on this seemingly comfortable family who realize they still have many unanswered questions that this introduction of actors and convenient friends happen introduce to them.

The more vicious the proceedings become, the more realize that there may not be any true victims here. Can we really feel too much sympathy for people so easily prone to temptation and misdeeds with strangers? Can we feel bad for exploitation of a family who exploit each other in the confines of their home? Cohen brings the best out of his cast, and there’s not a single weak performance in the array of actors, particularly Ashley Chase and Joanna Sims who are so utterly radiating it’s a bonafide distraction for anyone hoping to take them seriously as characters; which is no hit on their skills as they're often very entertaining in their character's skins and provide some of the most interesting portrayals on-screen. “Paradise Hills,” much like reality TV, is excruciating, and unlike reality TV, Cohen uses this opportunity to explore morality and our utter obsession with voyeurism that leads to a climax that’s powerfully disturbing, and really does speak to the audience who, like viewers of television, want to turn away but can’t.

I essentially had my doubts about Cohen’s high concept film, but “Paradise Hills” gradually evolves into an excellent and rather brilliant look at human nature, the grotesque element of reality television, and our limitless willingness to achieve fame.

• Learn more about "Paradise Hills" including cast, gallery, and purchasing information at the official website.

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