IN THE FIRE – the latest feature edited by Marco Perez, a Partner/Editor at bicoastal Union – hits select theaters across the country tomorrow. It will also be available for streaming nationwide. Directed by Conor Allyn, the supernatural thriller stars Amber Heard, Eduardo Noriega and Luca Calvani. The film was co-written/produced by Pascal Borno and Silvio Muraglia. Produced by ILBE – Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment, IN THE FIRE is being released by US distributor Saban Films.
The release comes on the heels of Perez’s latest commercial project, LEGO’s “Play Is Your Superpower” campaign featuring the brand’s first ever fully playable brand film, which was cut by Perez, directed by Ellen Kuras, created via Droga5 Dublin, and released by The LEGO Group.
IN THE FIRE director Allyn first became acquainted with Perez on the film EDGE OF THE WORLD (2021), which was directed by Michael Haussman. Perez edited that film, on which Allyn served as an Executive Producer. Allyn said, "A period film set in the 1890s requires a steady and calculated hand at the wheel during the editorial process. The film had that in spades with our editor Marco Perez. We wanted the reserved and graceful demeanor of the Victorian era to come through on screen while still allowing for emotion to be slipping through the cracks. Marco crafted the film very carefully to achieve that."
Written by Conor Allyn, Pascal Borno, and Silvio Muraglia, IN THE FIRE stars Heard as a pioneering psychiatrist who sets out to treat a desperate child at a time when psychiatry is not yet a respected science. Set in 1899, the film follows the 38-year-old American psychiatrist as she arrives on a rich farm in Colombia after being called to solve the case of a disturbed child following increasingly insistent accusations that the child is the devil. While the woman tries to psychoanalyze the child, the nefarious events intensify and her “cure” becomes a race to save the little boy from the fury of his fellow citizens, and perhaps, even from himself.
“I was immediately drawn to the strong script,” Perez recalled. “The battle between science and superstition is one that is carried suspensefully through to the end of the film. The lead is played wonderfully by Amber Heard, and the interplay is fascinating, as each character brings their own prejudice to the situation.” Perez describes the film’s postproduction phase as “a smooth process, layer by layer, refining and strengthening the structure, as Silvio and Conor aligned to achieve the best version of the movie. From the rushes, I could see Conor’s choices without his having to verbalize them. We hope to collaborate again as a team very soon.”
"Knowledge and taste for quality filmmaking, creativity in finding elegant solutions and keen sense of the audience point of view, this is Marco,” added Muraglia. “A smooth and creatively satisfying experience between editor, director and producer and everyone is happy with the final cut."
IN THE FIRE had its world premiere in June at the 69th Taormina Film Festival.
Perez’s next longform release will be THE PARADOX EFFECT, a feature film produced by ILBE, directed by Scott Weintrob starring Olga Kurylenko, Harvey Keitel, and Oliver Trevena.
