Riddle of Fire – A Bogged Down Adventure

The innocence of childhood is a theme portrayed across countless films; there’s something unique about the perspective of a child, the unique way they see the world and go through situations. In Riddle of Fire, the story follows siblings Hazel (Stover) and Jodie (Peters) and their friend Alice (Ferro) as they go on a quest to retrieve a blueberry pie for Hazel and Jodie’s mother in exchange for some time on the new gaming console. The result? A wondrous childlike adventure, described by the director as a “neo-fairytale”, blending aspects of light fantasy and reality, constantly blurring the lines between the two. In the end, it’s a fun coming-of-age adventure film that perhaps overstays its welcome, clocking in at almost 2-hours long, and fairly poor pacing in its second half where several portions drag on longer than needed.

Riddle of Fire is an obvious homage to classic kids’ films from the 1970s and 1980s, think The Goonies or Stand By Me, except a little more clunky. For the most part, it is a low stakes film that plays out like a series of fetch quests where the lead characters need something and for them to get it, they must retrieve or do something else. The types of tasks they had to complete, in conjunction with its “fetch-quest” style of storytelling, never completely comes together in an engaging way. Maybe it would have fared better as a shorter film worked better, if only to cut down on its drawn out sections that only slow the film down, especially the forest section. The antagonists, a group of people known as The Enchanted Blade Gang, are interesting, but never felt explored enough. Their motives never felt fully realized or fleshed out, much like the characters themselves. While intriguing, especially their gang leader, Anna Freya (Lio Tipton), but it was hard to get a grasp on her at times and it would have been nice to have seen more from the character. 

That’s not to say the entire movie is a slog, a 2-hour runtime filled with boredom. The beginning and end of the film are possibly the best parts, the introduction of this simple quest for such a childlike goal and the conclusion, where the characters move around locations and have an interesting showdown. There are a handful of funny moments strewn throughout and a handful of heartfelt ones. The way it floats in this weird plane between reality and a type of fantasy world is also a highlight. While the film is not a straight up fantasy, there are small elements of fantasy within the plot which is both intriguing and a little frustrating. The small incorporation of the fantasy elements is small enough to not have a major impact on the story, allowing audiences to wonder if they’re real or merely a figment of the children’ imagination. On the other hand, the lack of explanation can prove a little frustrating if someone wants answers regarding whether it was real or made up. 

The way the child actors interact with each other, the nonchalant discussion of mature topics such as their parents and how a 9-year-old dreams of marriage. It’s so innocent, the way they view the world, marriage, and their moms and dads as parents. It’s these moments, the more down to earth parts with just the children talking that make Riddle of Fire so worthwhile, the childlike wonder and adventure that still exists inside them. Their actions reflected how children would (mostly) act. Their initial mission of retrieving a blueberry pie in exchange for video game time is wholly realistic, with their small quest turning into a day-long journey through the woods, to a bar, and finally back home. All for the TV password for screen time.  

On top of that, the gorgeous cinematography definitely makes the film worth it. Shot in 16mm, the result is wonderous cinematography, matching its classic aesthetic. One could almost mistake it for an 1980s period piece, if it wasn’t for its modern cars and smartphones in the children’s possession. Ultimately, Riddle of Fire is a wondrous childlike adventure that is unfortunately bogged down by an overlong runtime and some sloppy pacing. 

still courtesy of Yellow Veil & Vinegar Syndrome

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Jasmine Graham