Riddle of Fire

The story is fun; just three kids raising hell one summer around town and the woods. The cinematography is great. It is shot on 16mm stock, so it has a neat 70's kinda vibe. And the music is great. Music reminds me of 80ms fantasy, which is what the dialogue and story alludes to.

But the acting is terrible by almost all actors. Not even Lio Tipton (the only name I recognized on the bill) can save this disaster of a Goonies-wannabe.

However, please still check it out. Worth supporting an indie movie that looks great and has great music and a good story. Hopefully, this director will use this film as a stepping stone, learn from it, and the next film will be better.

Is this movie something special? I think some viewers will feel that it is. I think two reasons include: 1) It follows some free-range kids on an "adventure," and 2) The film quality gives it a retro look. These two elements add a sense of nostalgia for filmgoers of a certain age. The fact that the kids just roam the county with no parents checking in on them sets this movie apart from anything else made in a long, long time. There is also a slightly surreal quality to a lot of the scenes; the filmmakers did NOT go for a sense of realism. Instead, the children are able to do and say things that kids would like to be able to do, but never really could in real life. So it's kind of like a stylized way of telling the story from a kid's perspective--kind of like how Night of the Hunter has it's own logic at times. I happened to enjoy it, even when not everything worked 100%. For example, the fabled dance sequence: this should have been a highlight, but I didn't feel like it had the intended effect for me. Still, I very much appreciate that someone was able to get this made, and I would be interested to see what the writer/director does in the future. It's the kind of story I wouldn't mind telling if I were ever to write.

This movie reminds me a lot of the early children adventures movies I have grown up watching as a kid. A story about adventures, fantasy, friendship, and the journey to find something. Using 16mm film, the filmmaker perfectly captures the essence of children fairytale adventures with gorgeous looking production, camerawork, soundtrack, and really good child performances from the cast members.

The writing and the themes explored fits very well with the setting and direction. Many of the choices made feel childish and strange but it is intentional as it helps add the child-like adventures and craziness that we kids would go through to seek an adventure. With the characters being pretty fun to observe, many of the child performances are really good with each feeling nature and realistic of what how children really act and speak.

Although, it isn't a perfect movie. For a runtime of 114 minutes, it does feel tedious and some of the pacing really did drag the movie that made me zone out a little during the second act. But as a whole, I appreciate the filmmaker being able to capture the tone and atmosphere very well and it's definitely a project that he is passionate about.

But I definitely will be keeping an eye on this director.

You want to reconcile yourself with the magic of life watch "Riddle of Fire".

Brilliant, fun, emotional.

The child that you were resurfaced within you.

The way it is filmed in 16mm take you back in the 70' it gives you the feeling of being in that era.

All the actors the children, the bad and the uggly, the regulars all are authentic no doubt these people exist.

The story is full of twists and turns, unexpected events, you don't get bored for a second.

A wonderful journey that leaves you with a light heart and a smile on your face.

You want to do yourself good, go see the film.

Relax and enjoy.

Riddle of Fire is not only shot beautifully in it's own whimsical, 80s filtered camera, but the dialogue alsp feels just as whimsical, yet organic at the same time. The best way to sum up the feel of the film is Princess Bride meets Napoleon Dynamite meets Stranger Things. The premise is simple to the film and many great misadventures spawn from it. All the characters are interesting and have yourself asking what the back stories are to these characters. The youngest boy being the only character with subtitles is always hilarious especially since his lines are so good! Riddle of Fire is set in the modern day but feels so in touch with a past time. You can tell the love that went into this project and that the actors really enjoyed making this film. Can't wait to see what the producer makes next!