Yellow Veil and Vinegar Syndrome invite you to a neo-fairytale set in Wyoming, USA, as it follows three mischievous children as they embark on an odyssey when their mother asks them to run an errand. On the hunt to obtain her favorite blueberry pie, the children are kidnapped by poachers, battle a witch, outwit a huntsman, befriend a fairy, and bond together to become best friends forever. Shot on 16mm, Weston Razooli’s feature debut world premiered at Cannes Directors Fortnight (Quinzaine des Cinéastes).

For in-depth thoughts on Riddle of Fire, please see my colleague Cameron Ritter’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

Riddle of Fire makes its Blu-Ray debut with a fantastic 1080p video presentation in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio that showcases the nostalgic 16mm cinematography well. The rustic production design and fabulous mountainous shooting locations provide clear textural details. Black levels avoid nearly all signs of banding outside a few moments, as largely they maintain their depth. The flesh tones are natural with a favorable amount of detail present in close-ups. The image is textured with small specks of print damage to add a bit of character to the experience. The nuanced, natural color palette emanates off the screen with deep colors found in the expanses of nature. The presentation shows off an unbelievable amount of depth when exploring the forest. This Blu-Ray is an ideal representation of this movie that should more than please fans.

Audio Quality

Vinegar Syndrome gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that executes all of the nuances of this soundscape. The nimble and effective mix sounds top-notch here as it captures the dimension of the space. Environmental sounds of nature engage the surround speakers in surprising ways. When the characters are moving through the woods, some distinct ambient details flesh out the setting such as animal noises.

Dialogue always comes through clearly without being overwhelmed by any competing elements. The exception to this is the dialogue spoken by young Jodie which is hilariously subtitled. The score is an essential part of this journey, and it is always effective and well-balanced while maintaining its fidelity. The film is not action-driven, but you have elements like dirt bikes and paintball guns adding some nice texture to the proceedings. The audio track provides a really rich experience full of nuances that bring this narrative to life exactly how it was intended. You could not ask for better from this track. Optional English SDH and French subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Filmmaker Weston Razooli provides a really enjoyable commentary track in which he discusses the philosophy behind the film, happy accidents during production, working with the kids, securing the incredible house, the ideas behind the title of the film, and more.

Overexposing – An Interview with Cinematographer Jake L. Mitchell: A 20-minute conversation with the cinematographer who discusses his relationship with Weston Razooli, learning to shoot on film, the benefits and difficulties of the experience, working with different light sources, deciding what format to show at Cannes, and more.

Best Grilled Cheese – An Interview with Actress Phoebe Ferro: A nearly seven-minute interview with the young actress in which she discusses the similarities with her character, the bond she formed with her fellow performers, working with Weston Razooli, her favorite scenes in the film, and more.

At The Top – An Interview with Actor Charlie Stover: An 11-minute interview with the young actor in which he talks about his experiences during production, his favorite scenes, eating a feast on screen, games played on set, and more.

A Big Roll of Tape – An Interview with Actress Lorelei Olivia Mote: A nearly ten-minute interview with the young actress in which she discusses the audition process, the qualities of her character, the dynamic with the other kids, fun moments on set, secret rooms they found in the house, and more.

Very Surprised – An Interview with Actor Skyler Peters: A seven-minute interview with the young actor in which he discusses his character, embarrassing moments on set, refusing to jump into the river, and more.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided.

Behind-The-Scenes Still Gallery: A minute-and-a-half-long slideshow of photos from the production.

Behind-The-Scenes Video Clips: A ten-minute collection of candid moments caught during the production of the film.

Booklet: A 24-page booklet is provided featuring the essay “Escape From Faery Castle Mountain: On Weston Razooli’s Riddle of Fire” by writer and film curator Ariel Esteban Cayer. This piece provides a great analysis of the feature and its place within this subgenre.

Final Thoughts

Riddle of Fire is a magical feature directorial debut from Weston Razooli that embodies the spirit of adventure you feel during childhood. Even when the stakes are relatively low, every outing can feel like an epic quest where anything might happen. Very few films evoke a sense of wonder as effortlessly as this one. The young performers are incredible without ever sacrificing their natural youthful spirit for a more mature take on their characters. The pacing of the film could be tightened up a bit, but this one moves us so deeply that we can forgive it. This is a new classic in the childhood adventure subgenre. Vinegar Syndrome has released a Blu-Ray featuring a top-notch A/V presentation and an excellent assortment of special features. We would be shocked if this does not occupy a place in our top 10 at the end of the year. Highly Recommended

Riddle of Fire is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Vinegar Syndrome has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.