This review was made possible by an advance screener of Riddle of Fire. Riddle of Fire released in select theaters on March 22, 2024.
Remember the good ol’ days of childhood – running around the woods, fields, neighborhood, or what have you – just living freely, going on adventures, and getting up to no good? Maybe your mighty steed of choice was a scooter, or perhaps, a bike… or even a dirt bike! You may have played with toy swords, or even toy guns (I know I did), wielding your airsoft pellets or paintballs like your life depended on it, and lets face it… it just felt so damn cool. If you can relate in any sense, if as a child the world was your oyster – nay, your kingdom – Riddle of Fire will surely have you under its spell.
The Best Neo-Fairytale In All The Land
Set in Wyoming, the film follows three young, free-spirited kids, as they embark on a quest to obtain a blueberry pie for their mom. Coined a “neo-fairytale” by director Weston Razooli, it sees the three encounter a witch, a huntsman, a fairy and more along their journey. So is there actually literal magic? Or is it more imaginative? Well, you’ll have to see for yourself. But I will say that the movie eases you into its world under its own terms, creating ample suspension of disbelief. Once you’re in, the quest is a ride you’ll easily stay bought into, with the exception of a second act that feels a bit drawn out.
Tonally, the film harkens back to childhood adventure movies such as The Goonies or Super 8, but with fantastical whimsy and renaissance faire-speak injected into its veins. This spawns a relatability for viewers who grew up hunting (make-believe) witches of their own, or had their own mundane blueberry pie quests that felt of dire importance – but it also creates opportunities for some great humor. Whether something is over by “yon tree”, or a character just has a downright silly name, it’s when Razooli leans into the film’s slightly campy nature, that the whole experience is enhanced and truly confident in its identity. At risk of sounding contradictory, Riddle of Fire never takes itself too seriously, by knowing exactly when to take itself too seriously in its fairy tale scenarios.
“Lovely!”
To pull off the film’s surreal modern fantasy story, it relies heavily upon the look and feel of the world the characters live in. Yes, it’s set in Wyoming (though filmed in Utah where Razooli grew up), but so much effort is put into making it feel just ever so slightly other-worldly, as if straight out of a storybook. It’s shot on Kodak 16mm film, and color graded so that the greens and yellows of the summertime forests and meadows glow with a comforting hue. The best way I can think to describe it is as a live-action rendition of how Studio Ghibli displays nature in films such as My Neighbor Totoro or Ponyo (which just so happen to feature similarly strong-willed, free-spirited children). It just feels like a warm hug in its display of vivid, natural beauty.
What really further cements the “neo-fairytale” vibe is the soundtrack. Razooli opted to forgo having a traditional score composed, instead selecting a smattering of tracks from the “dungeon synth” genre – songs that sound like the perfect sonic blend of electronic synth and plucky strings for a tabletop RPG. The second I was soaked in a synthwave medieval tune while the opening credits rolled, I was immediately sold.
Fellowship Of The Pie
As far as the stars of Riddle of Fire go, Lio Tipton (Crazy Stupid Love, Warm Bodies) is dialed in with a menacing glare for her role as Anna-Freya Hollyhock, and Charles Halford (Logan Lucky, Bad Times at the El Royale) brings in a grizzled performance to spice things up as huntsman John Redrye. A few other supporting actors flesh out the cast, but Weston Razooli himself is actually most highly of note, delivering just an absolutely hilarious turn as Marty. You can just tell he’s having so much fun with it.
Now of course, there’s the real stars of the show… the kids! What a fantastic little ensemble, delivering timeless performances all around, and each with their own strengths. Charlie Stover perfectly anchors the group together as Hazel, and he has a great scene reminiscing on a childhood memory pulled straight from Razooli’s past. Skyler Peters plays Jodie, a quirky little dude who by far has the best (and funniest!) lines throughout the film. Then we have Phoebe Ferro playing Alice, who really kills it taking charge of the role, as she has this effortless coolness about her. And last, but not least, Lorelei Olivia Mote joins the gang a little bit later on as Petal, showing off a massive amount of charisma and charm. Altogether, they bounce off of each other with a fun, natural chemistry.
‘Riddle Of Fire’ – Final Thoughts
Riddle of Fire is a fantastic(al) feature directorial debut from Weston Razooli, and a cult classic in the making. Beautiful scenery, hilarious gags, and stellar performances from all of the kids will have you enchanted. It’s not without its flaws, with a couple odd line reads and a second act that could be paced a bit better, but it’s a perfect display of a director putting their personal creative vision boldly to screen, providing a unique mashup of genres wrapped in a gorgeous package. Miyazaki meets Bottle Rocket with this imaginative neo-fairytale quest, which carves out its own identity for itself as a charming, campy, timeless tale that will have you yearning for thy childhood days of ole.
Riddle of Fire released in select theaters on March 22, 2024 (You can find the full list here). Check out the trailer below.
