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Riddle of Fire

Riddle of Fire

2023

Weston Razooli

Analeigh Tipton, Charles Halford, Weston Razooli, Danielle Hoetmer ...

6.7

231

Adventure Once upon a time there were three kids trying to crack the parental control of their games console, and to tackle the recipe for the perfect blueberry pie. Once upon a time, there was a sect of poachers who couldn't stop bickering and a little girl with an elvish gift.

	Media	Author	Review
		Peter Debruge Variety	"Weston Razooli's wilderness-set debut feels like child's play, in a good way"
		David Ehrlich IndieWire	"'Riddle of Fire' tries to capture the magic inherent to even modern childhood by stretching a simple fetch quest into an epic adventure. Perhaps a little too epic, it turns out"
		Drew Tinnin Dread Central	"The slinky visuals and '80s-inspired synth score make 'Riddle of Fire' play like it's a distant memory that's being accessed again years later. There's a sense of nostalgia without rehashing the movies most of us were raised on"
		Jeannette Catsoulis The New York Times	"Aside from a cheekily entertaining opening sequence, 'Riddle of Fire' is frustratingly slack and in dire need of whittling"
		J Hurtado Screen Anarchy	"Razooli’s film exudes joy from every delicate 16mm frame, making it the perfect gateway for those weirdo young children looking for representation in a world of high gloss influencers and YouTube celebs"
		Tim Grierson Screendaily	"The young actors' intentionally unvarnished performances are charming. But an overly precious tone ultimately sinks the written-director's attempt to recapture the enchantment of adolescence"
		Joe Lipsett Bloody Disgusting	"'Riddle of Fire' has all of the hallmarks of a classic ’80s children adventure film, mixed with the quaintness of a British fairytale (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Leslie Felperin The Guardian	"[It] has a cute conceit and some fun sequences but the inexperience of the cast and director shows (...) Rating: ★★ (out of 5)"
		Lovia Gyarkye The Hollywood Reporter	"[It] starts to feel like a compilation of distracting gimmicks instead of a genuine story"
		Nick Schager The Daily Beast	"An endearing hodgepodge mood fabricated from bits and pieces of adolescent memories and beloved movies."
		Brian Tallerico rogerebert.com	"[I] found its 16mm photography engaging and its young cast extremely likable, but the slack pace is deadly here as a film with about an hour of ideas is stretched to twice that length."
		Tyler Nichols JoBlo	"I can’t see 'Riddle of Fire' being for everyone (...) But those that can get past the acting and embrace the youthful charm, will be rewarded with an experience unlike any other"
		Tyler Nichols JoBlo	"I can’t see 'Riddle of Fire' being for everyone (...) But those that can get past the acting and embrace the youthful charm, will be rewarded with an experience unlike any other"
		Devan Suber IGN	"Weston Razooli has cultivated a totally unique atmosphere brought to life by four pitch-perfect child performances and a script that's equal parts cowboy poetry and the silly side of 'Adult Swim'"
		Mike DeAngelo The Playlist	"There are pockets of joy and wonder, but they’re not quite enough to let 'Riddle of Fire' stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the cinematic classics that inspired it."
		Belen Edwards Mashable	"'Riddle of Fire' feels right at home alongside classic kids' adventure films... However, its dreaminess still sets it apart from its predecessors, making for a fiercely original fantasy tale"
		Ankit Jhunjhunwala The Film Stage	"An uneven but skillfully made children's fantasy adventure"
		Andy Crump Paste Magazine	"The aesthetic achieved in the movie evokes childhood while dispensing with arrested referentialism"
		Chase Hutchinson Collider	"A movie that is never lacking in charm. Unfortunately, charm can only get you so far"
		Elena Lazic Cineuropa	"Weston Razooli crafts a sincere, cute and subtly melancholy ode to childhood"

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