Devil's Play

The movie is interesting and full with a lot of surprises. Everyone has to watch it 👌 Best casting of the actors. Amazing combination of scenes around Bulgaria, England and LA What is your side of the story? Good, bad, devil, angel. Who are you?

All this questions come around.

"The Wheels of Heaven" is a coming-of-age fantasy thriller directed by Ben Charles Edwards, featuring Academy Award nominee Mickey Rourke. The narrative centers on Iva, a rebellious young girl who encounters a mysterious, charismatic boy claiming to be the fallen angel Lucifer, sent to guide her through significant existential challenges. This relationship empowers Iva to confront her problems and discover her path in life. The film delves into themes of good versus evil, inspired by Mark Twain's "The Mysterious Stranger," and was shot across various locations in Bulgaria, Los Angeles, and London. The cast includes Mickey Rourke, Gary Stretch, Dessy Tenekedjieva, Geoff Bell, Eleonora Ivanova, and Dimitar Nikolov, with special appearances by Nicky Whelan and Lee Ryan. The movie premiered on December 27, 2024, at the Capri Hollywood International Film Festival.

Complex Characters: The devil is often portrayed as a morally ambiguous character, which can make them fascinating to watch. You might enjoy the complexity and duality of these characters-whether they're sinister or charming, they often have depth that makes them interesting.

Exploration of Good vs. Evil: These films often play with the classic theme of good versus evil, making you think about morality, temptation, and the choices we make. It can be engaging to see characters struggle with these larger-than-life concepts.

Thrills and Suspense: Many films with the devil include horror or supernatural elements, which can create a sense of tension, suspense, and excitement. The unpredictability of the devil's actions keeps things thrilling.

The plot and pacing were a total mess. It's like the director was making it up as they were filming it. Some utterly and completely confusing scenes which brought no support to the plotline. Horrible pacing. Bad English from the Bulgarian actors (Except for Torosyan, he is the only one who seems to have taken it seriously). Also, why did this movie even have to be in English? One of the better scenes was in Bulgarian and was actually touching. The advertising leans heavily on Mickey Rourke, but 95% of his scenes are very obviously filmed off-site and spliced into the movie at times which are vaguely related to what he says. Not even going to get into the religious themes and imagery, because that is a total mess. Good cinematography and choice of filming locations. Alright music. Overall, seems like a dust-in-your-eye-with-marketing cashgrab. Is Bulgarian cinema on its way back downhill after "Gundi"?

"Devil's Play" is one of those films that tries to shock at all costs, but instead evokes confusion and disgust. The movie, which claims to be deep and philosophical, is actually a chaotic mix of satanic symbols, a weak script, and even weaker direction.

The film exploits occult and satanic symbolism. Instead of offering a profound interpretation of good and evil, it simply layers on clichéd satanic imagery that shocks and repels.

The direction of "Devil's Play" leaves the impression that even the people behind the camera weren't sure what they were trying to achieve. Some shots even resemble low-budget television productions, rather than a film claiming international recognition.

Unrealistically high ratings for this film can easily be found online, which are clearly given by people with direct ties to the production. This is a typical tactic for films that would otherwise receive no positive attention. Real reviews from viewers not connected to the project are far more critical and clearly show that the film is far from quality cinema.

"Devil's Play" not only offers nothing new, but also repels with its pretentiousness and cheap provocations. Weak direction, ridiculous dialogues, and intrusive satanic undertones make it a film that is hard to take seriously. I would not recommend this production to anyone who values their mental well-being and time. If you're looking for a meaningful thriller or drama - look elsewhere.

It could be a story for love, for agression, for lies, for the dark side of the human being and the bright side as well. Mickey Rourke's presence is impressive! His talent reigns over the whole story! Yong actors and Dessy Tenekedjieva and Gary Strech are very good in their acting. Their characters are lost in the middle of nowhere of their own life. The story is interesting, full of unexpected twist and turns. There are two faces of devil - a young man and priest and two faces of the angel - a young woman and her deaf mother. And the end is a surprise. It is a different film. Chocking but interesting to be seen.