Devil's Play

The film definitely surprised me. It's not mainstream. It's not narrative. It's neither relaxing nor overwhelming. This is a film that cannot and should not be retold. At its core is the eternal battle between good and evil, between darkness and light, between black and white. It is by no means satanic, as some have labeled it without even watching it. But yes, the theme of the devil and God is present, as well as the fine line between religion and faith. Many of the painful topics of modern life are touched upon, many questions are raised, but there are no answers. Each viewer must find them for themselves.

An exceptional display of cinematography by Denis Madden, who has managed to capture not just beautiful shots but also to create an atmosphere that makes this film something absolutely different from anything we've seen so far. Dynamic, vivid, and real. You don't just watch the film-you step into it. You are inside.

The film is not literal. It doesn't serve everything on a plate; it makes you a participant in the action in some way. You want to understand what will happen in the end-will there be victory over darkness? Will light prevail? "The Wheels Of Heaven" vividly shows us that one cannot exist without the other and that you cannot reach absolute light without first passing through absolute darkness. No one is purely good or purely evil. It's all a matter of perspective.

Special attention must be given to the stellar cast, led by Mickey Rourke, who has been my favorite actor since the time of the classic The Wrestler. Alongside Rourke, the international cast includes Gary Stretch and Geoff Bell.

I cannot overlook the Bulgarian actors either-an outstanding performance by Desi Tenekedjieva, Eleonora Ivanova, Dimitar Nikolov, Ovanes Torosyan, and all the other incredibly talented faces who contribute to the film's powerful impact. This is grand cinema. And grand cinema is for connoisseurs, for people ready to reflect on it without forming conclusions in advance.

I don't know why, but this movie somehow reminded me of Stanley Kubrick's cinematic masterpieces, where striking visuals are combined with powerful music that transports you into a completely different space and creates an entirely unique impression. Once again, this is the impact of grand cinema, which is, above all, art. And art is not explained-it searches. Go and experience it.

Complex Characters: The devil is often portrayed as a morally ambiguous character, which can make them fascinating to watch. You might enjoy the complexity and duality of these characters-whether they're sinister or charming, they often have depth that makes them interesting.

Exploration of Good vs. Evil: These films often play with the classic theme of good versus evil, making you think about morality, temptation, and the choices we make. It can be engaging to see characters struggle with these larger-than-life concepts.

Thrills and Suspense: Many films with the devil include horror or supernatural elements, which can create a sense of tension, suspense, and excitement. The unpredictability of the devil's actions keeps things thrilling.

The plot and pacing were a total mess. It's like the director was making it up as they were filming it. Some utterly and completely confusing scenes which brought no support to the plotline. Horrible pacing. Bad English from the Bulgarian actors (Except for Torosyan, he is the only one who seems to have taken it seriously). Also, why did this movie even have to be in English? One of the better scenes was in Bulgarian and was actually touching. The advertising leans heavily on Mickey Rourke, but 95% of his scenes are very obviously filmed off-site and spliced into the movie at times which are vaguely related to what he says. Not even going to get into the religious themes and imagery, because that is a total mess. Good cinematography and choice of filming locations. Alright music. Overall, seems like a dust-in-your-eye-with-marketing cashgrab. Is Bulgarian cinema on its way back downhill after "Gundi"?

An extremely pointless and poorly made film. In fact, this is not a film with a plot, but just some kind of salad. The main actress and screenwriter show their life and try to make a film out of it, but the audience has no need to watch the works of sick minds who publicly claim that they need to be treated in mental clinics. There is a difference between real art and the products of sick minds, after all! It is obvious how this salad had a low budget and towards the end of the mixing, there is a meager stupid idea that extremely ugly turns into a finale showing the brutalisms of deeply confused people. In reality, this is a project that has very badly spent a lot of money on yet another neoliberal satanic advertisement.

The movie is interesting and full with a lot of surprises. Everyone has to watch it 👌 Best casting of the actors. Amazing combination of scenes around Bulgaria, England and LA What is your side of the story? Good, bad, devil, angel. Who are you?

All this questions come around.

"The Wheels of Heaven" is a coming-of-age fantasy thriller directed by Ben Charles Edwards, featuring Academy Award nominee Mickey Rourke. The narrative centers on Iva, a rebellious young girl who encounters a mysterious, charismatic boy claiming to be the fallen angel Lucifer, sent to guide her through significant existential challenges. This relationship empowers Iva to confront her problems and discover her path in life. The film delves into themes of good versus evil, inspired by Mark Twain's "The Mysterious Stranger," and was shot across various locations in Bulgaria, Los Angeles, and London. The cast includes Mickey Rourke, Gary Stretch, Dessy Tenekedjieva, Geoff Bell, Eleonora Ivanova, and Dimitar Nikolov, with special appearances by Nicky Whelan and Lee Ryan. The movie premiered on December 27, 2024, at the Capri Hollywood International Film Festival.