Fire Creek (2006)

Director:

Jed Wells

Writer:

Nathan Keonaona Chai (writer)

Release Date:

8 May 2009 (USA)

Plot:

Spared by a God he didn't believe in, Jason Malek comes home carrying shrapnel wounds in his legs and the memory of his best friend dying in combat, and the question of why.

Cast

Seth Packard	...	Jason Malek
Kim Abunuwara	...	Nancy Malek
John Cannon	...	Paul Coldwell
Dayne Rockwood	...	Lou Coldwell
Melinda Lockwood	...	Allison
Adam Daveline	...	Rooster
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Knight	...	Boxing Referee
Joseph Spear	...	Cor. Rawlans

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic material, some violent content, brief language and smoking.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:PG | USA:PG (certificate #45326)

Filming Locations:

Provo, Utah, USA

Coming home from war...

I saw this film at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis and was quickly drawn into the story. Jason Malleck (Seth Packard) has returned home to Utah from the war in Afghanistan with a serious leg wound which will end his military experience. He was spared death while seeing a close buddy lose his life and Jason is struggling with guilt and nightmares and wonders why he came home and his friend, a professed Christian, did not. Jason heard a "voice" on the battlefield tell him "don't stand up", and as he hesitated, his comrade did stand up and was shot. Now he believes there must be a reason or purpose for his life, but is very confused as to what that may be. Seth Packard, who is also one of the producers of this film, does a fine job portraying the young former soldier who is trying hard to figure out how to deal with the events and circumstances that unfold around him day by day in his hometown. There is a very gentle scene where Jason, once the tough Marine in battle, allows his mother to comfort him as they sit side by side on the couch. A young actor by the name of Dayne Rockwood does an amazing job in an important role as Jason's neighbor, Lou Coldwell. Lou's father is dealing with cancer and as a way of relieving his pain and finding some peace, he often asks his son to read to him from the Bible. If you ever get to see this film, be advised that this kid will rip your heart out! The flashbacks and the nightmares scenes are shown in black and white and sometimes it got a little confusing, to me, as to which is which. One thing that I found annoying was that pretty much the entire film, except for the b&w shots, is very dark for some reason, as if it was all shot at six 0'clock in the morning. Many times it was hard to recognize the person on the screen. It is possible, I suppose, since this was a festival film it was not in it's final form as it would be if released. I don't want to be too critical because this film is listed in the festival program as a "Student Dramatic Feature" and is Seth's debut as a producer. Having said that, I really did like this film and the story played out very nicely to the end. I would like to see it again and if it ever is released on DVD, I would probably buy it. I will be watching for any future projects from this talented young man, Seth Packard.