In Attack on Paradise, Suleyman (Saïd Boumazoughe) has to save his ill mother (Fatima Khanfour), and after seven years locked away in prison, he will finally get his chance. Of course, it’s a lot easier said than done – especially when his mother’s apartment complex is now overrun with drug dealers and junkies, thanks to drug kingpin Prince Hamza (Achmed Akkabi). Suffice it to say that a lot has changed since Suleyman was put behind bars.
With his former apartment complex now turned into a fortress, Suleyman must navigate Prince Hamza, the drug dealers, and a police raid to help his mother. Suleyman is outnumbered and outgunned as danger lurks on every floor of the building. Finding an unlikely ally in a rookie cop named Yasmine (Clara Cleymans), the two set out on their mission to get Suleyman’s mother out of the apartment complex before things get worse. With fight and flight modes activated, Suleyman and Yasmine race against the clock to get out of the Paradise apartment complex.
Directed by Bob Colaers, Attack on Paradise is an Antwerp-set action thriller that is an exciting romp that will likely remind viewers of The Raid. That being said, it’s clear that the writing trio of Boumazoughe, Sven Huybrechts, and Salahdine Ibnou Kacemi do their best to try to set it apart from action thrillers in the same vein. Of course, it’s hard not to think of similar films whilst watching – something that is par for the course as far as these types of films are concerned.
Of course, the first thing I want to talk about is the action. It’s well done, and it was great that each floor provided a different challenge for Suleyman on his quest to save his mother. At times, it was reminiscent of a video game, with each level increasing in intensity. It upped the stakes and the ante in terms of action, making for an extremely fun watch. The action is non-stop and takes many forms, never leaving a lull or dull moment throughout the 96 minutes.
Of course, with movies such as these, there is a suspension of disbelief one must have whilst watching them. There are a fair few moments where you might think to yourself that this is crazy or this would never happen, and you have to go with it. While this may not be an issue for some, I can see that for others it would take them out of the movie during those particular scenes. However, if you can get past this as a viewer, you’ll be good to go.
The performances in the film are just as good as the action. While the acting may not be the first thing on people’s minds when going into a film like this, it certainly elevates the film when the performances match the other high notes. Each character is believable, thanks to the performances of their respective actors. Boumazoughe, Clara Cleymans, Fatima Khanfour, and Imanuelle Grives are just some of the actors who light up the screen with their performances in Attack on Paradise.
While Attack on Paradise might not be reinventing the wheel as it pertains to action thrillers, it does make for an entertaining watch. If you’re into fun action and high stakes, this movie will be right up your alley.
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