Wildflower

The film was recommended by Netflix as part of thriller Friday... not entirely sure why.

The film gets off to a slow start and never really picks up and speed. It's starts with a random half story of the male lead which is loosely referee back to at points. All of a sudden it gets to the female lead with no introduction or back story.

It's a very safe film and somehow they manage to solve a 12 year old missing person case when we all know from cold case about the hard evidence you need before you can make any arrests.

It was all very miraculous, possibly aimed at Christian youth ministry movie nights, with plenty of moral story and no sign of ethnic minorities, no alcohol, swearing or even the faintest suggestion of sex.

First things first, Wildflower is a good movie that has fallen victim to misrepresentation. As some of the other reviews have indicated, this movie has been mislabeled under the thriller category on netflix. Once you get past that, you will see that this isn't a thriller that missed it's mark, but rather it's a faith based drama that is well directed with some great cinematography.

Got off to a slow start and almost gave up watching. But wanted to see how story incorporated "faith based" into the plot and it was basically using the same tropes seen over and over.

I wasn't sure if this was a traditional drama almost like the old "ABC Afterschool Specials" of the 70's. But then it dove into this tension- filled, suspenseful section that almost alluded to a supernatural element to the plot (trying to not give any spoilers). So was a bit confused. I think directors/producers wanted to go for a faith-based story with more meat to it but it falls short. Actors performances lacked depth and didn't rise above material. Some of the writing was trite and very "on the nose" - a screen writing no-no.

BUT good points: well shot. Good cinematography and liked small town America location.

I really liked this movie. The main character has some voice over narration which is a bit made-for-TV, but there is also a strong undercurrent of tension which is what really pulled me in. Faith and God are strong themes here, but not so much that it detracts from the story if that's not your cup of tea. It also deals with strong mental illness themes, especially in the realm of trusting your own mind (or not).

It seems at times like the movie can't decide if it's a thriller or a made-for-TV drama. It's quite tense, but there are odd moments that are a bit cheesy. All the same I enjoyed it.

A 20 year-old (Nathalia Ramos) in a college town in northern New York has blackouts and premonitions, which pave the way for her to meet a troubled, but compassionate handyman (Cody Longo). They sort of team-up to investigate a missing girl case from a dozen years earlier. Kevin McCorkle plays the police chief and Alexa Rose Steele a young woman in the town.

"Wildflower" (2014) is a crime drama/mystery with paranormal bits that only cost $650,000, but seems like more because it's so well made (by writer/director Nicholas DiBella). This is not a thriller, as it has been wrongly designated in some places, although there are a couple brief thrills. It's a low-key drama/mystery with slight faith-based aspects, mostly because the dude is fixing-up pews at a church facility and is dealing with disillusionment due to a tragedy. The pastor of the fellowship is actually a small role (Benjamin Ashbrook).

So don't watch this if you loathe the very concept of God or want a crime thriller with a dynamic scene every 10 minutes, like "Deadfall" (2012), which is a decent flick albeit contrived and unlikely. This one, by contrast, plays out like real life.

For anyone who scoffs at the paranormal bits, these have to do with what the bible calls the 'word of knowledge,' the ability to know things about the past or immediate future which you wouldn't otherwise know without this spiritual gift. Of course people with such gifts are understandably viewed by secularists as crazy and desperately needing the Psych Ward, which the movie touches on.

To appreciate this picture you have to enjoy lifelike drama. It effectively shows how ordinary people and their stories are more interesting than the most overblown effects-laden extravaganzas (to me, at least). Both Nathalia Ramos and Cody Longo own their roles, especially Nathalia (particularly as the story proceeds). There's an intangible honesty & reverence to the proceedings that appeals to me.

Also, this is about way more than just solving a mystery, but the movie wisely takes the subtle approach, unlike "Deadfall" which smashes you over the head with its well-intentioned points.

The film runs 1 hour, 32 minutes, and was shot in Brockport & Rochester, New York, about an hour's drive east of Buffalo by Lake Ontario.

GRADE: B.