Movies by James Khanlarian

James Khanlarian is an Iranian-American film director whose distinctive style and thematic explorations have earned him a reputation as one of the most thought-provoking voices in contemporary cinema. Blending elements of psychological horror, social commentary, and poetic visual storytelling, Khanlarian's films delve into the unsettling recesses of the human experience, inviting audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about the nature of reality, identity, and the consequences of our actions. His 2024 feature, "The Ghost Trap," exemplifies Khanlarian's cinematic approach. Set in a crumbling urban landscape, the film follows a young woman's descent into a surreal, hallucinatory world where the line between the physical and the metaphysical becomes increasingly blurred. With its haunting cinematography, unsettling sound design, and Kafkaesque narrative structure, "The Ghost Trap" has been praised by critics for its ability to unsettle and captivate the audience, leaving them with lingering questions about the nature of perception and the fragility of the human psyche. Khanlarian's filmography is marked by a consistent exploration of themes related to alienation, trauma, and the human condition. His 2022 release, "Paradise: Disturbed," delves into the lives of a family struggling to cope with the aftermath of a devastating tragedy, using the framework of a psychological thriller to explore the ways in which grief and guilt can distort our understanding of the world around us. Through his masterful use of symbolism, dreamlike imagery, and understated performances, Khanlarian has established himself as a cinematic auteur capable of crafting deeply unsettling yet profoundly moving works of art.