User Reviews

While the title is somewhat unflattering, it's my perception of what Paris Hilton was and perhaps still is. Admittedly, it's a little hard for me to take anything Paris Hilton says at face value--at first.

However, perceptions change. This was a revealing documentary, revealing in the sense that she suffered trauma and abuse as a young girl and then teenager, that she put on a public false front to conceal the hurt, that she surrounded herself with yes-people who catered to her every whim, and that part comes through quite well in this film.

At the same time, though, what we see in her public face is that which we remember. And what we remember more than anything else is an image of a vapid, spoiled, not-too-bright socialite who comes from old money, who doesn't have to worry about where her next dollar is coming from, who flaunts her success to everyone willing to listen to her, and who makes it appear that she doesn't care what anyone else thinks because she's rich, rich, rich!

Still, she likes animals, so that's one point in her favor.

Yet...after watching this documentary, in spite of some of the revelations of her friends, her entourage, her relatives, and her own observations, I never really caught who the real Paris Hilton was and is. She's always come across as the living embodiment of spoiled WASPy privilege, and revelations in this documentary aside, she's not done much to alter my perceptions of her. I don't wish her ill; I wish that on no one.

But I have a feeling that this youtube flick is simply another way for her to reinvent her public persona, to gain more followers to someone who should have grown up years ago, and to show another side of her personality without ever revealing who she truly is.

I'm in my 30s so I grew up watching Paris on tv & seeing her in the tabloids so I assumed this documentary would be the same old Paris persona but I was pleasantly surprised it was not that at all! I have a new found respect for Paris & I hope she continues to show her true real self.

Growing up in the 2000's, I remember Paris Hilton being the ideal for many girls. She was a trend setter, she was attractive, she was always at THE places to be at. Yet, everyone figured she was a bimbo. Doing a show like "The Simple Life" just fueled that perception of her. While she pretended to be stupid in public, so did many regular girls. I witnessed that at my own schools. I found Paris funny but I was always more of an Amy Winehouse fan at the time. Another "wild girl" of the time but who couldn't be bothered with keeping a made up persona. Pretending to be stupid was never my thing. Something always told me Paris Hilton was not the vapid girl she displayed herself as in the public eye. This documentary confirms that.

You can see that she struggles with letting her real self come out. The baby voiced Paris we're all familiar with comes out even when she's trying to let her guard down. That alone is enough proof of the trauma this woman has. Too many people might accuse her of being fake, but you can tell that she's uncomfortable being her true "imperfect" self in front of a camera. The real Paris with the deeper voice comes out when she's really into her emotions and especially when she's retelling the trauma of attending that horrible excuse for a school. Learning how strict and conservative her family is helps all of Paris' public decisions make sense. Another tale about how money makes no difference. All the riches in the world and the ugliness of life can still creep in.

Yes there are times where her spoiled upbringing comes out, such as her talking about her large collection of shoes (some of which she never wears) or her goal of being a billionaire. This can rub the average person the wrong way but it shouldn't take away one's ability to empathize with her. No one deserves to have gone what she's gone through. This was a free spirited girl who was trapped by her parents and when they couldn't really do it, they had abusers in the guise of disciplinarians do the job. I think if her parents were more realistic and simply cautioned her about what comes with being a socialite rather than just treat her like a prisoner, she wouldn't have gone overly wild, and that's true of any child from any socioeconomic background.

The documentary isn't perfect, it's not this cinematic or (youtube) masterpiece, but you certainly get a new perspective of Paris Hilton. I hope people listen to her story instead of instantly bashing her.

She comes from a rich family and like any family it has it ups and downs. Paris as a child always wanted to be in the limelight and over the years this has not changed. Contrary to what she says, she is still feeding her brand, this time seeking sympathy by telling the hard times she had as a child. But let's face it, Paris was out of hand and any parent would have taken steps to curtail this behavior. Perhaps Paris was badly traumatized at Provo and is reliving this to this day, but for sensation and dramatization, this viewer does not buy it.

It is obvious looking at her over the years that she loves the attention and will always do as Paris does.

This film totally surpassed my expectations. The documentary reveals someone who has been hiding in plain sight. It broaches deep and universal questions; and examines what fame and fortune look like in excess. I highly recommend this documentary to both fans of Paris' and those who wouldn't think this documentary was for them. It takes you to the unexpected and will leave you questioning what you thought you knew about all sorts of public facing personas. Simply excellent.

This was an interesting documentary but the bit about where her trauma came from should have been closer to the beginning.

I've long thought Paris Hilton was an intriguing character of modern Hollywood, and this documentary gives us true insight behind the curtain. Trailblazer of 'new fame' as we know it today. Paris' life - from abuse; to rebellious club kid; to the socialite and head of a multi-billion dollar conglomerate - is heartbreaking, inspiring and controversial.

Well worth a watch, for fans and haters alike.

A tad too long and disjointed at times, 'This is Paris' isn't as powerful or compelling as it might have been in more capable hands - or less produced by Paris Hilton herself. Still, the documentary manages to be a surprisingly sincere and shockingly vulnerable portrait of the "original influencer" who created the blueprint for a new breed of celebrity who uses social media to gain attention, and then turn that attention into their own brand. You may come away with a new appreciation for the heiress.

This documentary was amazing when you read between the lines. For a woman who acted her whole life and pretended to be perfect, Paris is beginning to show who she is.

There are people who say she is fake and is using this to promote a "new brand" but that isn't the case. She has never showed her faults and it's extremely difficult to do that after being the architect for a form of fame and a new type of celebrity. I loved this documentary because it shows that everyone has trauma and demons and it is extremely difficult to let them out after decades of hiding them.

Cheers to Paris and I hope she is able to find true joy and sleep without the fear of nightmares.

I was deeply moved... and I think this world deeply needed this message from Paris. From abuse to the selfie-instagram hype we still fall victim to daily. Thank you, Paris, peeling away your glamorous self-created image to reveal your true personality to us to help us grow... and grow yourself.

It was great to see a different side to Paris during the first half of the movie. She laid it all out and it felt very exposed and authentic. She rally gave you a VIP access to her VIP life, and the burden she carries. An amazingly privileged burden but it's there nevertheless.

Ive never enjoyed shows like simple life or the characters that come with them... One thing I have always thought though, was that they are just that... Characters...

Paris hilton is relatable and likeable... She's just a female adult who has past trauma and trying to make her best life... Unlike a lot of celebrities she does not appear to be self obsessed (refer to the lady gaga documentary for a perfect example... Just annoying) she clearly has a good soul and a heart of love... Sometimes I felt like giving her a cuddle. I'd be proud to someone like Paris as a friend or daughter...

I am not a fan at all and I just wanted to watch a few scenes out of curiosity and I ended up watching the entire documentary. And I actually really liked it! Quelle surprise!

It is tough being rich and famous. Honestly.

Did you know she cant sleep at night, out of fear being abducted by men who break into her room? Did you know she was tortured, beaten by therapists at a special school and almost froze to death?

This is according to her very own words.

Do we have to believe everything she says? She is known to be a DRAMA QUEEN.

Her sister is featured in this documentary as well, as is her mom. Those 2 give some context to all the things that Paris Hilton claims have happened to her in her childhood. What is real, what is fake, what truth lies in between?

I wasnt a fan of Paris Hilton at all. Based on all the media hype II simply thought she was another airheaded spoiled rich kid with issues. BUT I still got mesmirized by this documentary. THAT is the power of Paris Hilton. And she aint bad... she allright!

WOW!!! I did not expect this documentary to be THIS GOOD. It opens your eyes. You feel the pain coming through the screen right into your heart. It shows you that each and one of us, is battling something. No one knows what the other person is struggling with. This documentary was very educational as well. Shows you that even celebrities struggle with something. Even if from the outside everything looks all rosy and wonderful, behind the curtains no one knows what pain the person is having. After watching this I see Paris with different eyes now. She truly is strong. A boss lady! A survivor. A warrior. She is so strong. Amazing how she built this empire that she has now. The dedication and willpower she had to create all of this. And her work ethic, wow. Such a insightful and interesting documentary. Some of the stuff that Paris talks about, a lot of people can relate as well. The anxiety, relationship issues, sleeping issues, body/image and trust issues etc. There is so many things we all can relate to. Paris might be rich and famous, but if you take away the fame and money etc, she is just like you and I. Also struggling with something. We all struggle with something. Regardless big or small. I totally recommend this documentary. One of the best documentaries that I have seen in ages!

This is all a PR job to change her public image. 'Unfiltered' yeah right. There had to be a plot revealing her weaknesses to make us empathize with her, to make us forget the two decades she spent cultivating the dumbness and vanity in people. Don't be fooled by low grade garbage like this, this is a PR stunt, not a documentary.

If you only know Paris Hilton from THE SIMPLE LIFE, or the sex tape, or her short-lived stint as a Hollywood actress in films like THE HOUSE OF WAX remake or THE HOTTIE AND THE NOTTIE, chances are you wouldn't care to watch an hour-and-forty-five minute profile on a vacuous, impossibly dim-witted blonde bombshell.

I understand this prejudice because I had them. But it took Kim Kardashian to shake me of the idea that reality TV personalities are not to be taken seriously. And once I had this breakthrough, it didn't take long to add Paris Hilton to those ranks--and, no, I've never met either of them, so this is a working hypothesis.

It would be one thing to put on a ditzy, skimpy-clothed persona, rake in millions of dollars via various revenue streams, and then fade away into obscurity. Though few people breathe that rarefied air, it's not impossible to achieve--especially if you have wealthy, famous parents.

Sustaining a glamorous brand, however, takes endurance, business savvy, and a degree of self-awareness that absolutely cannot be faked. Think what you will about societal degradation at the hands of influencers who are famous for being famous, the truth is that Hilton and Kardashian are famous because they work at providing a product (themselves and the aspirational lifestyle they market to dreamers worldwide) and sustaining that product's relevance in a pop landscape whose features change by the news cycle.

Director Alexandra Dean gets unprecedented access to the Hiltons (the ones who'll appear on camera, anyway), and gives audiences a front row seat to the exhausting whirlwind of a life that Paris maintains in pursuit of her goals. Throughout the film, she can be heard to say that she won't rest until she makes a billion dollars.

Arguably, pre-COVID, her net worth was well over that--or at least the brand she and sister Nicky stood to inherit was well in that ballpark. So why claim that she needed to reach that milestone? The answer, as we come to learn, is that SHE wants to earn that money--to be her own woman and show that world that it takes constant fan outreach, tweaking the brand, and an unrelenting 250-days-a-year travel schedule to achieve larger-than-life dreams.

That's one big key to Dean's successful profile. The other is the ability to capture Hilton with her guard down. Entire books could be written about the disconnect between Paris' bubbly public persona and her down-to-business backstage demeanor. The two give and take in fascinating ways, particularly in a brief stretch where we meet a new boyfriend. The culmination of that relationship at a music festival cracks the door of Hilton's guarded psyche even wider, and Dean transitions smoothly into the movie's final act--wherein a number of big puzzle pieces fit together in an ending that moved me in ways few films have this year.

I'm being deliberately vague here, as I want as many people to see THIS IS PARIS unspoiled as possible. You may come away with a new appreciation for the heiress, as I did. Or you may believe Dean and the audience members who fall for the end product to be dupes who've been suckered by a manufactured and utterly disposable personality. Either way, it's impossible to absorb this movie and not see celebrity culture, politics, and even everyday relationships in a new way.

To quote Ben Stein (or Jim Carrey IMPERSONATING Ben Stein, whichever you prefer), "We all wear masks...metaphorically speaking." So even if you believe there's something cynical and calculating underneath the blonde bob and pouty-model lips, there's no denying that there IS something there.

The mom and family All target scapegoat, bully, shame and belittling Paris. The family system unhealthy and relationships with children limited by severe empathy deficiency. The invalidation and emotional neglect in family system Shows narcissistic severe empathy deficiency. The Doco a portrayal of family Scapegoating, family symptom bearer, invalidation, double bind, cognitive dissonance, hierarchical family systems, identified patient and child abuse by narcissist mom.

I was really hoping this would to shed light on a hidden layer of depth we've never seen. Unfortunately, beyond learning about her real voice, there isn't much. She tries to build up what she went through as suspense, then sell it here as a point of compelling interest. It doesn't work. I wish I could've felt sorry for the trauma she went through, but she's had all the money and more time than the average person to work through it. Quite blatantly, this is part of a continued money-grab in which nothing is offered for it. It wanted to be as good as Madonna: Truth or Dare, but fails.

This documentary is really good. It has great depth and turned the spotlight on child abuse, consumerism, social media, mental health and much more. Recommended.