Review: ‘In The Fire’ Will Make You Contemplate What It Means To Be Evil

Doctor Grace Burnham (Amber Heard) travels to a remote plantation to try and help a boy named Martin Marquez (Lorenzo McGovern Zaini), who the locals claim has supernatural powers granted by the devil. Martin’s widower father, Nicolas (Eduardo Noriega), is trying his best to keep the peace while being torn between the love of his son and the evidence that’s rapidly stacking against Martin.

In The Fire is a period drama with horror and thriller elements spread throughout the film – just enough to keep the pacing exciting. It marries a Western film with a Gothic style, complimented by brilliant cinematography and lighting. There are so many scenes in the film that I could freeze and hang on my wall. This, coupled with the stunning locations and the great acting performances across the board, create a unique atmosphere that is both beautiful and tense.

The chemistry between the three leads, Amber Heard, Lorenzo McGovern Zaini, and Eduardo Noriega is as powerful as any film I’ve seen in quite some time. Grace is convinced that Martin’s behavior is attributed to mental illness, while the locals, and even Martin and Nicolas themselves, are convinced it is truly a possession.

 

At first, I was wracking my brain trying to figure out which would be the case, but as the story progressed, I noticed I quit caring. Instead, I found myself rooting for Martin no matter the outcome, as the relationships between the three of them developed and my heart broke for them repeatedly as they all had to question their own beliefs. Even as they each began to lose faith in themselves, they never lost faith in each other.

 

Dichotomy is at the center of In the Fire. It pits religion against science, understanding against fear, love against desperation, and culture against culture. What I loved about this, is the film never commits to saying which side of the coin is right, instead showing there isn’t always a right answer.

In The Fire is a beautifully heartbreaking tale that will have you questioning what it means to be truly evil.