PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Vision Film’s Nation’s Fire is a bit of mixed bag for me. Its heart is in the right place with what it wanted to do, but I felt that the finished product just wasn’t all that great. The acting was there with Bruce Dern (The ‘Burbs 1989) and Krista Grotte Saxon (The Day Of The Living Dead 2020), plus an extended cameo from UFC champ Chuck Liddell (Kick-Ass 2 2013).
However, the writing and editing of the film is very uneven, making Nation’s Army seem more like a Made for TV movie. The editing in particular is distracting and may cause some viewers to give up on it or not take it seriously. Thomas J. Churchill’s (Xenophobia 2019) directing helps a little bit, but I feel like Nation’s Army may have been hurt by a shoestring budget, keeping the film from reaching its full potential. The story is a bit tedious and generic, surrounding the simple plot of a single mother/soldier taking her former bike club on a quest for revenge… It sounds like a plot for a Sons of Anarchy spin-off that doesn’t even reach that quality of storytelling.
However, I’ll go back to Bruce Dern, who is one of the main highlights of this film. He always commands the screen, from his cameo in Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood (2019 – read our review here) to his role in Logan’s Run (1976). He brings a veteran presence to this movie that was greatly needed. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know how long I would’ve stayed around watching Nation’s Fire. Krista Grotte Saxon was also a powerhouse to watch and admire especially with how she handled the action in the film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCD4zZ5j42I
In conclusion, Nation’s Fire may not be for everyone with the editing not being all that great. However, if you’re in it for the lead performances, you may find yourself glad that you checked it out. I myself wasn’t too blown away by Nation’s Army, but I did enjoy certain aspects that it had to offer. Yes, it could’ve been better, but for what its worth, if you happen to have a rainy, stay at home afternoon, why not turn it on and see how you feel about it?
