movie review: in the fire

What is evil? The new American-Italian independent film, "In The Fire," boldly poses that question to its audience. On the surface, the movie is about Martin Marquez, a young boy who appears to have inexplicable abilities. He has been blamed for every wrong thing that has happened in the area since his birth, from locusts to plagues to weather to deaths and even issues with crops. Though the people in town seem certain that Martin is possessed by the devil, an American Doctor, Grace Burnham, believes that Martin has a medical condition that can be understood and managed. It is here that the theme of science versus religion is introduced in the film. Grace sees Martin as a human being. Someone to be treated with respect and understanding. Someone to believe in. The townspeople see Martin as a source of evil and someone to be exterminated. 

Going into the film, I thought this would be a straight up horror movie with a lot more ambiguity about whether Martin was or was not possessed. After all, it was released on Friday the 13th and the trailer was more than a little terrifying. Though there were horror-esque elements, the movie was far more focused on the evil in society than possession. (In my watching experience at least.) It hinted that the townspeople had simply chosen someone to blame for all of their hurts, for all of their pains, and for all of the unknowns in life. This is not an unfamiliar scenario. Unfortunately, throughout history there are countless examples where the ignorance of the majority causes harm to the minority....where people refuse to do what is right and instead follow along with the crowd, torch in hand. Once again, the movie asks us to consider the question: What is evil? 

"In The Fire" delivers a powerful and emotional movie experience. It touches on topics that are all too relevant today, including sexism, imposter syndrome, fear, and the dangers of groupthink. Visually, the movie wows, with its incredible scenery and period piece costumes, but this movie is more than just a looker. It says something. It means something. Though the entire cast is stellar, invoking anger, pain, frustration, sympathy, and many other emotions through their passionate performances...the clear standout is Amber Heard. She truly brought Grace to life and allowed the audience to walk with her through her moments of doubt, compassion, and hope. The character of Grace is independent, strong, opinionated, and very much goes against the societal expectations of the time. She is bold enough to speak the truth and stand against the crowd. 

As I said, there, there is a lot to love about "In The Fire." It is so much more than scenery and costumes. It does an excellent job of highlighting the longstanding conflict between science and religion....fact and fear. One quote that stands out? "People are afraid and they need something to blame for that fear. And it's you." True or not, the townspeople had decided that Martin was evil. No logic or fact could break through their preconceived notion of who this boy was. Or perhaps, who they wanted him to be. The townspeople were looking for a scapegoat for their fear and uncertainty - an all too familiar scenario.

It simply would not be a complete review of "In The Fire" without mentioning the parallels between the themes of the film and the actions of society in recent years. Take for instance, the fact that this movie is currently being review bombed by people who have not bothered to watch or have decided to "hate watch," because they would rather believe lies about a proven domestic violence survivor than admit that they contributed to a global smear campaign. This action illustrates what the movie warns us about: the evil and cruelty in society. For instance, is Martin evil? Or are the evil ones the townspeople who hurt, threaten, and kill? The angry mob in our current society might not be holding literal pitchforks or storming the grounds with torches, but their actions are one in the same. The goal is to punish, silence, and harm anyone who does not conform to societal expectations. Anyone society deems "evil." In the case of Martin, he did not behave in the manner of a stereotypical child, therefore, the townspeople decided he was evil. In the case of Amber Heard, she spoke truth to power and our culture was forced to face its deeply rooted misogyny as a result. She was punished not just for surviving abuse, but for refusing to lose her voice in the process. On that note, I want to make something very clear: the creation of beauty is art. stands with survivors. Even when it is not popular to do so....especially when it is not popular to do so. I stand with Amber Heard. Always. 

"In The Fire" is a fantastic movie for a lot of reasons. The sets, the costumes, the cast, the cinematography...all of it wowed. It was certainly a memorable movie experience. "In The Fire" ultimately asked the audience to look inward and consider the following questions: What is evil? Who is evil? And am I part of the problem? Though "In The Fire" is a period piece set in the 1890s, the movie manages to hold a mirror up to the actions of current society. Quite frankly? The reflection is horrifying.