Firenado (2022)

The widespread destruction is a given, yet it is the crime thriller drama at the burning heart of Firenado which comes as a surprise as an accountant for the mob has to escape the titular event - which was accidentally started by a team of scientists using experimental technology - while being chased by armed robbers in a home invasion gone wrong.

"popcorn entertainment through and through"


Turns out that using a FIRENADO as a cover for robbing the mob is a really, really bad idea.  Blame Tommy (Matthew Marcelis, Camerawoman, Beneath the Surface) for the crazy idea.  He’s about as stable as a house built on loose sand and it shows in just about every decision he makes in trying to get the mob’s money while not becoming a victim to the raving fires outside.  After all, there’s really no safe area outside the home.

As you can probably tell, there is quite a lot going on in this wild disaster movie from filmmakers Scott Jeffrey and Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Blood and Honey).  It doesn’t disappoint either as it opens with the creation of the disaster, sweeps viewers to the robbery, and then brings back the disaster to settle the score. 

The performances are good and so too is the humor which is often dark and biting. I mean, this team of scientists is trying to control a tornado which - as desirable as it sounds - is still light years away and their techno-speak isn’t helping matters either.  Their inclination is to run far away from the scene of the crime, too. Firenado (2022)

What we are able to understand from the tech-talk is that something seriously goes wrong with the experiment, resulting in an early (and somewhat humorous) fatality as the tornado grows and grows becoming a monster of a natural disaster.  There goes the careers of Dr. Devlin (Toby Wynn-Davies, Nefarious, The Ghosts of Borley Rectory), his assistant Helena (Nicola Wright, The Killing Tree, Spider in the Attic) and his intern Anna (Sian Altman, The Curse of Humpty Dumpty, Croc!) as they speed like hell away from what they’ve helped create . . .

. . . and wind up crashing the robbery party at Pierce Moore (Daniel Godfrey, Island of the Dolls, Dirty Games) swanky pad.  While he might be grateful for the company, none of it makes up for the fact that a group of thieves - using the firenado as a cover to do some nefarious things - have dogeared his pad for a robbery.

Plagued with hammy CGI throughout (which is definitely part of the B-grade charm) but the brilliance of cinematographer Vince Knight’s lens. Firenado is popcorn entertainment through and through, especially when the scientists have to repeatedly knock out the home invaders.  It is definitely not content to be just another in a long line of cheapo depot disaster flicks. 

Uncork’d Entertainment has acquired the film and will release it to streaming platforms on January 3rd.  A later DVD release is scheduled as well.  Flame on! Firenado has arrived.

3/5 stars

Film Details

The Menu (2022)

MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime:

Director
: Rhys Frake-Waterfield; Scott Jeffrey
Writer:
Tom Jolliffe
Cast:
Sian Altman; Nicola Wright; Stephen Staley
Genre
: Action
Tagline:
Destroying Everything it Touches.
Memorable Movie Quote:
Theatrical Distributor:
Uncork’d Entertainment
Official Site:
Release Date:
January 3, 2023
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:

Synopsis:An accountant for the mob, has to escape a whirlwind of fire while is chased by armed robbers.

Art

The Menu (2022)