Riddle Of Fire

This is the work of a film-maker whose skill doesn’t yet match his bold vision. But with more experience, we could see great things from American writer/director Weston Razooli.

While the core conceit is sort of cute, Razooli really can’t direct actors who aren’t already seasoned with prior experience.

It’s a light and singular concoction of sick-ass vibes in dire need of something -- anything -- to weigh them down. I couldn’t wait for it to end, but that’s partially because I’m already so impatient to see what Razooli does next.

Reverse-engineered from such memories and shot on 16mm Kodak film — with radioactive-yellow wildflowers and foliage so green you may reach for your allergy medication — the project makes up in personality what it lacks in budget.

Razooli accomplishes that feat with an intoxicatingly assuredness that makes this fairy tale feel like a classic in the making.

Aside from a cheekily entertaining opening sequence, “Riddle of Fire” is frustratingly slack and in dire need of whittling.

Whilst Riddle of Fire struggles to justify its near two hour runtime, Razooli's film is as joyful, endearing, and heartfelt as any other release this year.

I haven’t had more fun at the movies in 2024. ... If you are old enough to remember using shoulder-mount video cameras or primitive handicams to make shaky fake action movies with your friends, you’ll probably love this.

A lot of ideas have been thrown together in creating Riddle of Fire and, while some work better than others, the result is an underwhelming fairytale outing.

[Riddle of Fire] is gleefully impertinent, capturing the perspective of children needing to escape, and the off-kilter amateurism of the film lends itself to coming from the shoddy malleability of juvenile brains