‘On Fire’ Is Streaming for Free & More Relevant Than Ever

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Due to a rise in severe weather incidents worldwide, such as heavy flooding in Spain and freezing temperatures in Texas, disaster movies appear increasingly real-life depictions rather than fiction. Although we’re not yet at the point of The Day After Tomorrow, our present reality with its extreme heat certainly mirrors films like “On Fire,” a 2023 thriller starring Fiona Dourif, Lance Henriksen, Asher Angel, and Peter Facinelli (who also co-wrote and co-directed the movie). With California’s current wildfires in mind, this streaming-free film feels more relevant than ever.

In “On Fire,” we find a Californian family battling tough circumstances. Facinelli portrays the father, a contractor whose enterprise is faltering. Dourif takes on the role of his heavily pregnant wife, while Angel and Henriksens play their son and nearly senile grandfather respectively. As sparks from a neighboring forest fire ignite their secluded California hillside home, they are compelled to evacuate due to an encroaching wildfire. With swiftly dwindling escape routes, the family faces a harrowing and exhilarating struggle for survival as the blaze rages on.

The movie debuted mere weeks following the devastating Maui fires in Hawaii, an event that dominated conversations when the cast and crew discussed “On Fire” with MovieWeb. Fast-forward 16 months, and another unprecedented fire has become a global focus, being hailed as one of the worst wildfires California has ever faced. Back then, Peter Facinelli had shared with MovieWeb:

It seems as though fires are breaking out everywhere; you read about it daily. What was once confined to California is now spreading across various regions. Given this context, when we embarked on creating this film, the news was filled with such reports, and we knew they would be. We decided to produce a movie centered around a family’s adventure, hoping for an exciting, thrilling experience while also offering valuable insights.

“Us Against Nature, and Nature Is More Powerful Than Us”

Fiona Dourif, one of the stars, explained to MovieWeb post the release of On Fire that it’s a pressing concern. Every summer for the past three years, there have been stretches where it’s advisable to stay indoors or avoid going outside altogether. Nick Lyon, who collaborated with Facinelli in writing and directing the film, concurred.

I am familiar with seven individuals who have tragically lost their homes due to fires. A fire in Malibu, specifically, destroyed the home of one of my close friends, took his beloved pets, and left him with nothing. Upon investigation, it appears that this is a common theme among many people. While I don’t want to focus on any single person’s tale, I am moved by numerous narratives. Essentially, we are fighting against the forces of nature, and in this case, nature seems to hold the upper hand.

In his explanation, Facinelli emphasized how deeply this story resonates with him due to personal connections and past experiences. “I have family members who are firefighters, and I grew up in New York, witnessing the destruction of 9/11. Many people I knew lost their fathers. To me, firefighters are universally revered heroes. This sentiment is surely shared by those observing the current events in California.

You can watch “On Fire” without charge across several platforms like Peacock, Fandango Now, The Roku Channel, and Tubi. Here’s a link to stream it on Tubi: [Link]

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2025-01-13 11:01