I have enjoyed many of the faith-based movies that I have checked out over the last few years, mostly put out by Angel Studios (The Last Rodeo, Homestead, The Shift). However, Soul on Fire is an interesting one in that I had no idea this was supposed to be classed as a faith-based movie until after I had seen it! I get that some people are put off when they hear the terms faith-based or Christian movie, but this is honestly not shoving it in your face at all, as I said, I had no idea!
Where to Watch Soul on Fire
Soul on Fire was released on October 10, 2025. You can stream the film from Angel.com.
The Movie Review
This is actually based on a true story, and it is classed as a biopic. The story is based on the life of John O’Leary, who in the movie is played by Joel Courtney. In the 80s, a young John O’Leary ends up with terrible burns all over his body after a horrible accident. We get to see a bit of his life before the accident, his recovery, but the main aspect of the movie is him coming to terms with the hand he was dealt and using this to be a positive force in the world.
Portrayal of John O’Leary’s Inspiring Journey
John is certainly not a perfect man, and I liked how the movie showed that he was a real, down-to-earth kind of guy. John’s work in trying to inspire people to overcome the odds is really well showcased. However, if I am being honest, while I can tell that there is a fantastic, heartfelt, and inspiring story here. This movie just never really grabbed me. I would not say that it is bad, and I am in no way diminishing the real-life events here; I am purely talking about this as a movie.
Made-for-TV Feel and Pacing
It felt like a made for TV movie, sure, the 80s and 90s setting was something that I got a kick out of, but if you had told me this was a Hallmark made for TV movie to air on a Sunday evening, I would have 100 percent believed you. I wonder if people who are looking for a really strong story about faith would be disappointed with how this story is told?
Faith Message: Subtle or Missing?
Some of these faith-based movies, even those made by Angel Studios, are really on the nose when it comes to their message about faith. I guess the fact that I did not realize Soul on Fire was a faith-based movie could be seen as both a positive and a negative. I liked John as a character, but I never felt this strong connection to him. If there was some kind of “message” intended here, it went completely over my head. To be fair, this could be a me issue.
Final Thoughts on Soul on Fire
The movie comes in at a little under two hours, and the pacing was ok for me. I liked the stuff with John as a kid best, but as the movie went on and on, I did find myself losing a bit of interest. Still, there had to be something about the movie that clicked with me, as after I watched it, I went on a bit of a deep dive to find out more about John and his story. I have certainly seen way worse, but I cannot see myself watching this again.
