Sexual Paradise
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Director: Wes Anderson
Cast: Zendaya, Victoria Pedretti, Alex Wolff, KJ Apa, Edward Norton, Heather Graham, Sierra McCormick, Waris Ahluwalia
Plot: Inside a local high school out in the heart of Georgia, a young man steps out into the hallways, carrying a flower in his hands, only to hear loud shouts. Out in the distance, he sees a small girl, enclosed toward the lockers with tears in her eyes, a geeky kid harassing her.
Before the punk can go any further, another girl chases him away. As she comforts her friendl, the boy bolts off, dropping his rose in the process. His time, it seems, will have to wait for another day.
Except, it never does.
Current Day, Atlanta, Georgia:
After a model shoot, a woman tells a cameraman that today is the five year reunion party of Seymour High class of 2015. Her only hope? That people still recognize her.
That afternoon, the woman makes her way home, pulling out a yearbook of senior year. She flips through all the pages, smiling when she comes across two in particular. A younger version of Alisha (Victoria Pedretti) and a guy she vaguely remembers.
Kate (Zendaya) sits by her drawing stand, finishing a caricature of someone when she checks her phone. It’s almost time for the school reunion. She places her drawing in a sketchbook and heads off.
At Seymour High School, a car pulls up in the parking lot. Luke (Alex Wolff) hides in his seat, regretting the decision to come, thanking his parents Adrian (Edward Norton) and Josie (Heather Graham) for being honorary chaperones.
As Josie makes her way out, Adrian and Luke stay by to chat. Luke admits that he didn’t want to come back, as it reminds him of lost opportunities. Adrian is sincere but earnest:
“Think of it this way. This might be the last time you ever get to see this people. If it is, might as well make the most of it.”
Inside the gymnasium, Kate finds it difficult to talk to anyone when she hears a voice asking if she remembers her. Kate turns around, amazed to find Alisha.
Luke stands by the punch table, staring at Kate. Unsure of himself, Luke takes several steps forward, meekly introducing himself to Alisha and Kate. Kate asks Luke if he knows her. Luke tries to explain, only for the doors to swoop open.
Everyone’s focus shifts to the new figure, Brad (KJ Apa). With a charming and sleek smile, he greets everyone before coming across Alisha and Kate.
Kate apologizes for rejecting his offer to the prom, Brad calls it water under the bridge. Things have changed now, for he has changed. Luke can only watch in sheer horror as he realizes his opportunity has been squandered again. At that moment, he realizes that this is the same person who bullied Kate all those years ago. Luke screams:
“NO YOU HAVEN’T!”
As everything comes to a standstill, Luke runs off. Brad chases after him, finding Luke inside the car, slumped onto his seat in tears. Brad gently taps on the window, trying to get his attention.
Luke claims that he didn’t know what he was thinking. Brad pinpoints what this is as resentment and low self-confidence. Luke reveals that he’s still a virgin at 21 and has no social skills or experience to speak of.
Brad tells him that he used to feel that same way, until he came across a man known as The Sultan (Waris Alhuwalla). A man of principle and understanding of the mental health of men.
Brad then makes an offer. Tomorrow, Luke can stop by his house so he can learn more. As the two shake hands, Adrian and Josie rush up to the duo, both worried about Luke.
“No need to worry,” says Brad. “Luke’s in good hands.”
The next day, Luke is dropped off at Brad’s house and enters his room, neat and proper as Brad makes final preparations, including a bottle of pills. When asked what they’re for, Brad is vague on the matter.
Brad gives his lesson, explaining the need for strong men to support one-another and pick others up when they are hurt. Notably, the lecture contains some subtle remarks regarding women. That brings Brad to introduce his latest creation, Sexual Paradise.
“One shot of this, and you’ll feel like a man reborn.” Brad claims as Luke swallows the pill.
In Luke’s mind, he is teleported to a beach-like area, approached by a raven-hair girl who motions for Luke to follow. When they arrive at their destination, Luke is awe-struck to find hundreds of scantily clad women, all calling out to Luke. He is handed a lei and a coconut drink as he is taken to his seat. From there, the women all take turns, provocatively dancing Luke. One even takes off their top—
Brad snaps his fingers, sending Luke back to the real world. Immediately, Brad hails it a success and hands Luke a spare bottle to get him through the next week or so.
Out at a small cafe, Kate writes something out in a journal when a voice calls out to her. It’s Alisha! Kate and Alisha embrace one and discuss the high school reunion, both amazed at Brad’s transformation. Kate admits that he’s nothing like the boy who used to pick on him at school. She does wonder if that boy who yelled at him is alright.
Luke walks about on the streets, filled with a newfound confidence, something that gets noticed by several people, including women. Inside his mind, Luke has again been teleported to his sexual paradise, his harem dancing about like strippers on sand. One woman struts up to Luke, whispering into his ear.
“This is how you’re supposed to live…”
Luke enters his house, greeting Adrian and Josie and revealing that he just applied for several new jobs around the area. As Luke heads into his room, Josie celebrates their son finally breaking free from his shell. Adrian can’t help but smile, relieved that his words may have gotten somewhere.
Inside his bedroom, Luke gives Brad a call, thanking him for all his help. Brad is pleased to hear that the pill has enlightened Luke’s worldview and reveals that tomorrow, he will be hosting a seminar at a community college, and wishes to invite Luke over to give a speech. He accepts the proposal.
Luke is then called to the living room, finding Alisha. Alisha asks Luke how he’s been, who claims to have never been better. He reveals that he made amends with Brad after that meltdown at the reunion and now, it feels like he’s living in a paradise.
Alisha then asks Luke about Kate and if he may still have feelings for her. Luke admits that he does. Alisha floats the idea of reaching out to Kate, offering to get them both into contact. Things get weird when Alisha catches Luke staring at her chest, but he says he’s up for it.
The next day, Kate sits on a park bench, texting Alisha and revealing that all preparations have been made and that they’ll be able to hang out at some point during the weekend…
A young woman storms off, being chased by a guy convincing them to stay following suit, trying to convince them to stay. Kate meekly steps up, suggesting that maybe there’s someone else around he can talk to.
The woman steps in and chases him away. Kate thanks the woman, who introduces herself as Hannah (Sierra McCormick). She claims that he’s been following her around for days now. Kate is unsure as to what’s going on, but Hannah fears it may have something to do with that seminar this Brad guy is giving.
In the community college, Brad addresses the mostly male crowd, giving advice on how they can take back their lives. He is aware that some of them today have struggled to find someone in their heart, but that tonight, that will forever change, for he is officially announcing the launch of his new creation. Sexual Paradise.
Brad then introduces Luke who goes to introduce the crowd, only for his eyes to widen and his heart to stop when he spots Kate sitting alongside a random man. Luke bolts off the stage, leaving Brad having to scramble.
After the show, Brad finds Luke in his dressing room, crying and convinced Kate found a boyfriend. Brad checks the area to make sure no one else is around before quietly that Luke to take double the amount of pills in order to find the answer.
That evening, Kate calls Alisha on the phone to talk about what happened with the seminar, sending pictures and audio clips along the way. Alisha is shocked, asking what Luke was doing at such an event. Kate isn’t sure. Alisha opts to look into it.
Luke lies on his bed, taking two pills from the bottle before returning to his sexual paradise. However, not all is well, as there is another man (who looks similar to the one who was next to Kate) sitting alongside him, hogging all the women (including one who looks like Kate). Confused, Luke asks one of the women what’s going on.
“That’s just how we are,” she states. As she saunters off, Luke stands in shock, unsure of what to do when he hears Brad’s voice asking what he plans to do.
Luke ponders for a moment, staring at the man and the Kate-inspired model, equating it to the encounter from earlier that night. As Luke’s fists clench up, he storms up to the mysterious man, rips him off his chair and--
“Luke! You there buddy?” Luke jolts up, hearing Adrian’s voice. Adrian sits on the bed, saying that his mother told him to check on him. Adrian expresses sympathy over Kate. Luke lowers his head, muttering that she should be his. Adrian tries to calm Luke down, but he appears convinced. Kate is supposed to be his, and now, he needs to do something about it.
Luke takes his family car to Brad’s house, finding him in the living room. Luke asks Brad if he can teach him more on being a man. That evening, Luke and Brad scope the town, traveling to a strip club, a gun store and even a bar. During this experience, an inebriated man spills a drink on Brad. The two argue for a moment before Luke throws the first punch, resulting in a mass brawl that sees chairs thrown and even a gun fired.
Eventually, the bar clears out as police enter the area, Brad and Luke nowhere to be seen.
The weekend arrives and Alisha is finishing up some research into the Sexual Paradise pill. She attempts to call Kate, only to reach her voicemail Alisha warns Kate to be careful. Something isn’t right.
Kate meanwhile is out by the park, sitting by a picnic table, awaiting Luke’s arrival. Minutes pass by and nothing occurs. She sighs, ready to head home…
“Get your hands off my chest, weirdo!”
Kate hears Hannah’s voice again, finding Luke groping her chest. Hannah flails about before socking Luke in the nose. Kate rushes in to separate the two, asking what happened. Hannah accuses Luke of sexually assaulting her, Luke claims he’s just showing her what she truly means. The argument overwhelms Kate who begs both of them to stop. Hannah storms off, leaving Luke and Kate by themselves.
Immediately, the effects of the pill are apparent as Luke peppers his dialogue with multiple derogatory phrases. Kate is visibly unnerved, but tries to express Hannah’s viewpoint. Luke scoffs it off, claiming that she was “asking for it”.
Luke finally comes forth with his crush on Kate, claiming that she has a rocking body. Baffled, Kate tries to wiggle her way out of the matter, only for Luke to grab her hands, demanding that she tell him how she feels. In a state of panic, Kate looks around the area, unsure of what to do.
“GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!”
Alisha chases Luke away and checks on Kate, making sure she’s alright, now fully convinced that they need to do something to combat this. That’s when Alisha starts to form a devious plan, going after the source of the issue.
Inside Luke’s bedroom, Josie tries to call out for Luke only for him to demand her to bring him dinner. Baffled, Josie opens the door, making sure Luke is alright. Luke blows her off, wanting Josie to be a “good girl and treat him right”. Hearing the conversation play out, Adrian steps in, reprimanding Luke for shouting at his mother like that. The two proceed to get into an argument regarding Luke’s behavior, particularly around women.
Things reach a boiling point when Luke exclaims that Brad has given him the truth about life. Adrian declares that he doesn’t want Luke seeing Brad anymore, calling him a bad influence. Angered, Luke proceeds to punch Adrian, beating him into a corner only for Josie to step in. Luke, in a fit of rage, shoves Josie aside and storms off, taking the car with him.
Brad sits on the chair, going over final preparations with someone on his phone. Outside Brad’s house, Alisha, Kate and Hannah go over the final plan before Alisha opens the door. When the three ladies enter Brad’s room, he’s surprised at first, claiming that he wasn’t expecting to have guests over. In the most airheaded voice imaginable, Alisha claims that they aren’t guests, they’re object of desire.
The three ladies dance provocatively for Brad, Hannah and Alisha ushering him onto his bed. The girls proceed to take turns taking off their clothes for Brad, until only wearing their bras and panties.
When Alisha steps up to Brad, he offers to help take her bra off, but Alisha playfully refuses. Brad soon grows impatient, grabbing at her arm and dragging her onto the bed in an overtly sexual manner. Hannah tries to pry Alisha off of Brad, yelling for Kate to help out. Kate remains petrified.
Luke enters Brad’s bedroom. Upon seeing Brad and Alisha wrestling, he tackles Alisha, forcing her up on her feet. With an almost deranged smirk, Brad steps up to Alisha,whispering to her that if she truly is a good girl, she’ll behave like the doll she claimed to be.
In a last ditch effort, Hannah stomps on Luke’s foot, causing him to let Alisha go. Hannah and Alisha sprint out of the house, taking Kate with him.
Luke checks on Brad, making sure he’s alright. Brad takes a calming breath before thanking Luke for his help. Brad then reveals that he was on the phone with a representative of The Sultan. He wants him to be at a seminar he’s hosting in two days and has also invited Luke as a guest of honor.
Inside Alisha’s car, Hannah screams at Kate, demanding to know why she didn’t do anything. That’s twice now she’s enabled someone’s actions.
Alisha yells at Hannah to shut up. With that, Hannah storms out of the car. She then turns her attention to Kate, gently asking if she remembers the time she came to save her from Brad when they were in high school, So why then, does Kate not step in when Brad tried to assault her?
Kate thought Hannah and Alisha had it under control. Alisha thought so too, but had Hannah not intervened, she could have been raped. Kate sobs, repeatedly apologizing to Alisha. She didn’t want to hurt Luke. Alisha tells Kate that sometimes, she’s going to have to get involved.
“Says you…you’re not the one who was in a codependent relationship.”
Kate goes further. Before Alisha came to Atlanta, she was in an abusive relationship with a boy similar to Brad who would make sweeping declarations of love, only to demean her around others. He claimed it was how a woman should be around others and it stuck with her even after he dumped her for someone else. Feeling remorse, Alisha gives Kate a hug.
Alisha allows Kate to spend the night with her and the two stay in her house for the following day. Hannah stands by the door, asking Alisha if she can talk to Kate. Once by the couch, Hannah tells Kate that she heard what happened from Alisha and apologizes for getting on her case. She comes forward with her own story, revealing that a creep several years older than her tried to assault her a few years back. It’s a big reason why she takes the subject seriously.
Kate forgives Hannah, apologizing for not doing more. She just wishes there was a way they could do something about Brad and Luke. That’s when Alisha discovers that tomorrow, there’s a seminar being hosted by The Sultan. She looks up his website, finding the seminar date…and Brad’s portrait.
Alisha calls The Sultan, only to receive a representative. She winds up booking a pre-show meeting with him alongside Kate and Hannah.
At Georgia Tech University, Alisha, Kate and Hannah are ushered inside the building where a representative takes them to The Sultan’s room, a large dress room where he sits. By a large table, The Sultan, wearing his dastar, suit and tie gives them a warm smile, inviting them to sit down.
Alisha brings up Brad, particularly his Sexual Paradise pill. Concerned yet curious, The Sultan asks if they have a bottle of its essence. The three don’t, but Kate offers to look for it.
Kate proceeds to run off, looking for a Sexual Paradise bottle. Eventually, she bumps into Luke, a bottle in his suit pocket. They engage in a tug of war, ending with the pills being spilled onto the ground, but Kate grabbing onto the bottle. Kate darts off, handing the bottle to The Sultan just in time.
The Sultan is horrified to find out that the pill contains several chemicals that, if taken on a daily basis, can permanently warp your brain. He is further disturbed when he learns of what Brad did to Alisha.
The Sultan expresses remorse, but cannot do anything at this point. Kate steps forward, offering to help out. Alisha and Hannah stand in agreement. A press secretary steps inside, telling The Sultan that he’s on. He comes forward, letting him know that there’s been a few changes to his presentation.
In the auditorium, Brad is dressed in his finest suit and tie, proudly introducing The Sultan. The Sultan arrives, giving his introduction before announcing the topic of deception and how it can affect others.
The Sultan claims that those who are mentally vulnerable will often fall for people who claim to act in good faith, but use them to further their own gain. It is an epidemic that is far too common in modern society, and as he’s come to learn, he has been a victim of this as well, calling on three people to enter the stage.
As Kate, Alisha and Hannah step onto the stage, an alarmed Brad tries to get The Sultan’s attention when he is handed a bottle of Sexual Paradise pills. The Sultan warns them that there are multiple unknown chemicals, also including nicotine, that affect the mind and brain in ways that are akin to brainwashing and mind control.
The Sultan accuses Brad of deceiving young men into believing that women are inferior. Brad claims that this is what The Sultan taught, only for him to tell Brad he is wrong. He said that women who feel inferior see themselves as people who deserve to be degraded and objectified, regardless of their capabilities. Each living being should and must be treated as a person.
The Sultan claims that Brad has not been true to his words, stepping away to let Alisha, Kate and Hannah have the floor. The three proceed to rail Brad for every awful deed done to them, Alisha going as far as to tell Brad to go fuck himself.
Brad storms off the set, Luke tries to follow suit, only for The Sultan to call upon him. Confused, Luke steps up onto the stage. The Sultan calls Luke a victim of deception, a man who has struggled with his confidence, and let a false prophet guide him.
Kate takes a closer look into Luke’s eyes, all the past memories come flooding back. The times when Kate and Luke sat together during class and lunch, worked together on school projects. She tells Luke that for a long time, she thought she didn’t know Luke. Now, she doesn't know who he is. The Luke she knows was smart, kind, always willing to lend a hand. She asks Luke if she remembers who she is.
Luke struggles, having a flashback all his own, showcasing some of the times Kate was there for Luke. Kate gently holds Luke’s hands, pleading him to show her the real him. The guy who she knew in high school.
The guy who she loved.
In a flash, Luke crumples onto the floor, bursting into tears. The Sultan offers comfort to Luke, whispering something into Luke’s ear, picking him up by his hand and giving him a hug.
The next day, Adrian, Josie, Hannah, Alisha and Kate sit outside a therapist’s hall. Luke comes out of the room, finding his parents and giving them a hug. Adrian then thanks Hannah and Alisha for what they did. Alisha explains that it’s The Sultan they have to thank for hooking him up with therapy and assigning him, along with other victims, weekly sessions to discuss mental health and preservation.
Alisha admits she isn’t sure what’s going to happen with Luke or the victims, but as Luke and Kate walk out and exchange a kiss, Alisha suggests that he might be okay.
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