Wildflower

First things first, Wildflower is a good movie that has fallen victim to misrepresentation. As some of the other reviews have indicated, this movie has been mislabeled under the thriller category on netflix. Once you get past that, you will see that this isn't a thriller that missed it's mark, but rather it's a faith based drama that is well directed with some great cinematography.

Stopped watching this not even 20 minutes in. Was trying to give it a chance, even though I realized this was a religious movie the moment there was too much of a linger on characters inside a church, with not so subtle "get back to your faith" undertones. Contrary to the title I gave this review, I do believe it's not impossible to insert religion without compromising the entire plot. This film, however, is nothing but a stage for an infomercial marathon designed to herd everyone into the nearest church. Yep, that is basically the message throughout - get back to your faith, it solves all. There is no humanity, just missionary drones posing as friends and siblings, all of whom are set to convert mode. The story is very superficial and unexciting, taking a back seat to characters that are so robotic they make you wonder if this isn't a reboot of an alien body snatching film, with the lead characters running astray from the rest of the collective and everyone else charged with the task of pulling them back in. Get with the program.... or else. Unfortunately it is not that exciting! You'd think a faith with roots in the Crusades and Inquisition would have a handle on how to conjure the kind of atmosphere needed for a thriller, but instead you have saccharine sweet faces and bland storylines more suitable for the kiddy pool than a high dive. It's not only annoying - it's flat out boring. I would watch a "faith based" film, but give me a real plot, show some grit and humanity, not this dearth of reality.

A 20 year-old (Nathalia Ramos) in a college town in northern New York has blackouts and premonitions, which pave the way for her to meet a troubled, but compassionate handyman (Cody Longo). They sort of team-up to investigate a missing girl case from a dozen years earlier. Kevin McCorkle plays the police chief and Alexa Rose Steele a young woman in the town. "Wildflower" (2014) is a crime drama/mystery with paranormal bits that only cost $650,000, but seems like more because it's so well made (by writer/director Nicholas DiBella). This is not a thriller, as it has been wrongly designated in some places, although there are a couple brief thrills. It's a low-key drama/mystery with slight faith-based aspects, mostly because the dude is fixing-up pews at a church facility and is dealing with disillusionment due to a tragedy. The pastor of the fellowship is actually a small role (Benjamin Ashbrook). So don't watch this if you loathe the very concept of God or want a crime thriller with a dynamic scene every 10 minutes, like "Deadfall" (2012), which is a decent flick albeit contrived and unlikely. This one, by contrast, plays out like real life. For anyone who scoffs at the paranormal bits, these have to do with what the bible calls the 'word of knowledge,' the ability to know things about the past or immediate future which you wouldn't otherwise know without this spiritual gift. Of course people with such gifts are understandably viewed by secularists as crazy and desperately needing the Psych Ward, which the movie touches on. To appreciate this picture you have to enjoy lifelike drama. It effectively shows how ordinary people and their stories are more interesting than the most overblown effects-laden extravaganzas (to me, at least). Both Nathalia Ramos and Cody Longo own their roles, especially Nathalia (particularly as the story proceeds). There's an intangible honesty & reverence to the proceedings that appeals to me. Also, this is about way more than just solving a mystery, but the movie wisely takes the subtle approach, unlike "Deadfall" which smashes you over the head with its well-intentioned points. The film runs 1 hour, 32 minutes, and was shot in Brockport & Rochester, New York, about an hour's drive east of Buffalo by Lake Ontario. GRADE: B.

This was the sort of movie that was worth watching, but I wouldn't watch it again...if you know what I mean. The actor who most held my attention, although he didn't play a major role, was Kevin McCorkle. He delivered lines that in lesser hands would have come across as clichés and flat ones at that. And yet there was a sincerity in the delivery that made them ring true, and meaningful. Several times during the movie I said to my wife, "Who is the guy playing the detective, and why haven't we seen him before?" If any casting people are reading this, I would love to see him again! This time in a bigger role!

Skip it. Should not be touted as a feature film. Not much better than some episode of TV on a mediocre lifetime show. Bad acting, simple plot and a waste of time.

Intriguing and mysterious, Wildflower is a story about healing and hope. It portrays characters with broken pasts, whose efforts to find the truth behind the disappearance of a local girl eventually lead them to resolve the struggles within their own hearts. Wildflower is a wonderful story about how faith and hope can help us transform and move beyond life's greatest tragedies.

This movie may not be a major thriller, but it is a Christian film with a good story. The Christian theme is not over-bearing either. It is a good story about a woman dealing with some rough experiences, and the faith is the underlying piece that gives the characters strength. It deals with an unsolved murder and traumatizing childhood experiences, but ultimately it is a movie about hope even in the worst of circumstances.

Overall, this movie is well done- not a blockbuster hit, but worth watching. I would say it is a drama much more than it would be a thriller. It reminds me of a TV show soap opera but a lot more wholesome. It has a sense of balance between dialogue, thrill, and redemption. If you look past the stale screenplay, it turns out to be a pretty decent movie. This would be a great movie for all those people who flip on the TV and start watching the first soap opera they come across- I know you're out there! Instead, you can watch this and feel a lot better about yourself :) I appreciate how realistically dark the subject matter gets, and how it doesn't force God into the whole business like an unrealistic band-aid to the problems that are happening. It gets at the confusion we feel when faced with issues like death, anxiety, lack of trust etc. and shows how difficult/ impossible it is to see God in all of it. Plot twists kept me on my toes and guessing, and I found myself drawn into the rising action toward the end. The movie left me feeling good that I had watched it.

It is very frustrating to watch a movie that is labeled as "suspense" and "drama" just to discover you've stumbled in to yet another "faith based" proselytizing film. Amazon is doing this a lot these days... feeding us propaganda under the guise of entertainment. If I labeled * a "christian film" and distributed it to christian youth centers, I don't think they'd appreciate that. Just call it what it is so we know what we're getting into.

This movie was entertaining, suspenseful and deals with topics that I think aren't shown enough in Hollywood today. It had a very interesting plot while still keeping a faithful undertone without being too overpowering. The dealing with mental illness was something that really made this movie stand out. I don't think it is represented enough today and this movie presented it without throwing it in the viewer's face. That is a topic that can't be fooled around with and Faith Street Films did a very good job representing it and showing it in a realistic, yet tasteful way. What I loved is how they use what she thought was a weakness and turn it around to become her biggest strength. The movie is an uplifting film for viewers, letting them know that with God, all things are possible and He is there in the darkest of times. I think this is an important film to put out there because a lot of times, it is exactly what people need sometimes. Overall, this movie had a very wholesome and meaningful storyline. I'd highly recommend this movie.