Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Wild Fire’

10/31/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Still from Jennifer Cooney’s WILD FIRE Courtesy of HalfJack Generation.

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

We firmly believe that when we reach adulthood and settle into our lives, that we will… have life figured out, and it makes sense as to why we hold to that belief. Simply because, our parents had it together, and they always had wise advice to provide us with when we had questions. And of course, in our early days of conquering the world, we could turn to them for more. Because they figured everything out. Of course, we never ask them how they got there, and perhaps we should. Because eventually we discover quite the surprise when we finally do settle in. In that, we don’t know it all, and we have little figured out. Sure, we know how to pay rent and how to handle the adult duties that are expected of us, but those are in many ways, the basics that our parents sent our way.

But that’s it, and that leads to some unsettling days when we realize we don’t know how to properly connect and communicate with people or our partner, and sometimes… we don’t even know who we are. So, we forge ahead and struggle along the way, all in the hopes of figuring everything out so we have peace. And eventually we do figure it out, and so did our folks, but that was and will be accomplished through quite the complex process. One wrought with confusion and insecurity, and even hurt. To complicate matters further, since we know little of this process, we also have little knowledge of what it looks like or how we even reach it, and thankfully we have storytelling to help us out with that. To at least point us in the right direction, and it just so happens that writer/director Jennifer Cooney has opted to explore this in her new feature, Wild Fire.

Which is a story that introduces us to a group of seven friends who have gathered to celebrate Elliana’s birthday at her lovely home, and they all quickly enjoy laughs upon laughs and fond memories of days gone by. But as the evening continues along, and the alcohol and fatigue continue to flow, the evening takes quite the turn during a game of truth or date. For this particular edition of the game is raw and visceral, and the truths that begin to come out will lead to a fascinating night of discovery for these old friends. The kind that will force everyone to face their fears, their sexuality, and the horrors of life. But more importantly they will face what they don’t see when they look in the mirror in the mornings, their inner selves and that… will bring about a powerful and painful journey for each of them. One that will change their lives in ways they never thought possible.

Which is a plot… that at first glance appears to be grounded far deeper into a journey of self-discovery instead of one grounded in discovering all of life’s secrets and how to navigate it, and therein lies the trick. For this particular feature makes it clear, that self-discovery IS the secret to understanding life. For this movie takes the time to showcase how honesty about ourselves, our sexuality, our feelings, gives us peace and clarity, and how that clarity can help us to see a way forward and understand life. Because we simply don’t see life objectively, we only see it through our furrowed lens of concern and confusion. Which makes for a refreshing plot and a refreshing journey, one that also has more lessons hidden within that intense game of truth or dare.

Such as the fact, that this process of self-discovery won’t be easy. It will bring about pain, for oneself and those around us potentially. Since not everyone is ready to hear the truth about themselves, and not everyone is eager to embrace change and what’s necessary to go on that journey. But we simply must embrace the truth and embrace the journey, because knowing who we are, what we want and where we want to be, is the only way forward in this life, the only way to find peace and all of those magnificent concepts brings forth, a riveting motion picture. One filled with moments that are relatable and moving, and sometimes feel quite familiar in nature, depending on where one is at in life.

For it really does offer clarity and/or confirmation and it also features more than just philosophy. For there are moments of real drama here, and sorrow, alongside joy and beauty. Not to mention, this is a story that also injects a little sultry sexiness into the story to give certain relationships and wants in this story the gravity they require. Plus, it also doesn’t hurt that the cast is stellar in this story, and they all sell their journeys and concerns with a raw honesty that is hard to bring forth in film. But it’s here and its glorious and adds to the depth of a must-see story that beautifully showcases the struggles and the horrors of the beauty of life, and the sheer wonder of who we become, when we are finally happy with the person that we see in the mirror.

Watch ‘Wild Fire’

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