A recommendation: Riddle of Fire
Three mischievous children embark on a woodland odyssey when their mother sends them on an errand in order to obtain the password to unlock the TV. This is one of the best American indie film discoveries of the last few years - and it’s finally playing in theaters now. I grew up watching classic 80s & 90s adventure films like Willow and E.T. and The NeverEnding Story and Honey I Shrunk the Kids and The Goonies. They just don’t make movies like this anymore, nothing being created nowadays has that same kind of roll-around-in-the-dirt & get-into-trouble grittiness like these did. However, this entertaining new film is a throwback to those kind of classics, while also offering something fresh and unique. Riddle of Fire is set in (and was filmed in) the wilds of Wyoming, made by an American filmmaker who grew up in Park City, Utah, and it has that distinct go out and play in the woods feel to it that only someone who grew up in these places can really connect to. I loved it! So much! And I’ve been waiting for it to be properly released so that everyone else can go out and discover this gem. Now is the time! Go see it in theaters and enjoy. Riddle of Fire is a magical, mesmerizing, whimsical, delightful adventure following three precocious kids armed with paintballs on a mythical quest deep into the woods and beyond.
(Opens in a new window)Riddle of Fire is written and directed by filmmaker Weston Razooli, shot on 16mm film to give it an old school grainy cinema look & feel. Starring Charlie Stover as Hazel, Phoebe Ferro as Alice, and Skyler Peters as Jodie (watch the official trailer here (Opens in a new window)). This mystical neo-fairytale set in Wyoming is about three mischievous children as they embark on an odyssey when their mother asks them to run an errand. On the hunt to obtain ingredients for her favorite blueberry pie, the children are kidnapped by poachers, battle a witch, outwit a huntsman, befriend a fairy, and bond together to become best friends forever. It’s good for both kids and adults alike, especially those of us who have never forgotten their wild side even as they grow up and get older. Featuring a radical synth rock soundtrack along with many other surprises. One review describes it as “drawing from everything from slightly scary 70's Disney films like Escape To Witch Mountain, to Legend of Zelda and Little Rascals.” You’ll never forget this good time adventure with Hazel, Alice & Jodie, and you’ll want to escape to the Wyoming mountains on your own after watching. I can’t say enough good things about this! I can’t recommend it enough to everyone else who grew up watching movies like Willow (one of my all-time favorites) and The Goonies. This is a recommendation that I’ve been waiting to write since I first came across this indie film last year - it premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
For more info on Riddle of Fire and theater listings - visit the film’s official site (Opens in a new window).
