AFFIRM Films, the faith-based studio behind projects like Journey To Bethlehem and The Forge, has released its latest project, Soul on Fire. Directed by Sean McNamara, the film follows the inspiring story of John O’Leary (Joel Courtney), a burn victim whose near-death accident left him with less than a 1% chance of survival. Against all odds, he recovered with the support of his family, community, and faith. The kindness shown by his recovery nurse, Nurse Roy (DeVon Franklin), and his favorite baseball announcer, Hall-of-Famer Jack Buck (William H. Macy), played a special role in his testimony, showing the power of showing up for your neighbor.
The film begins with a young John O’Leary (James McCracken) listening to a St. Louis Cardinals game. As a St. Louis native and avid supporter of the Cards, he loved the calls by their storied announcer, Jack Buck. Guilty of youthful curiosity and sneaky intentions, after seeing a group of kids lighting fire with gasoline, O’Leary tried to copy their method once he returned home. With his parents away and just his siblings loosely watching, he sneaks into the garage to spark a fire himself. Without oversight or protective gear, a costly mistake set his family’s home ablaze, with his siblings still inside. Thanks to their quick thinking and selflessness, John was rescued and avoided burns to his face.
The movie is a biographical adaptation of O’Leary’s book “On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life.” Overcoming his traumatic injuries to become a motivational speaker, his radical story of perseverance and overcoming odds has been shared with millions around the world.
The best performances came courtesy of DeVon Franklin and John Corbett. As Denny O’Leary, Corbett played the role of a father who loved his son more than anything. No matter what happened in his son’s life, he showed patience and grace. Always sharing wisdom and an encouraging word, Corbett put forth an emotionally powerful performance that’s sure to touch the hearts of audiences. Nurse Roy cared for John while he was hospitalized and had a significant impact on his recovery. A pillar of support, Roy continuously pushed John beyond his limits, even to his annoyance at times, but had his best interest at heart. DeVon Franklin played 100% into the “unc” persona with encouragement and tough love. His favorite quote, “could be both”, was prompted organically and became a calling card for Franklin throughout the film. He was cast perfectly.
The entire cast was satisfying. Stephanie Szostak, Masey McLain, and Spencer Davis Milford were standouts with their performances. The actors represent a great balance of seasoned veterans and new talent.
What made the difference in this faith-based film compared to others was that God wasn’t the center of the film. It was inspiring, motivating, and enjoyable, but it didn’t have the traditional “feel” of a film centered on Jesus, and that’s because it wasn’t. The focus of the film was John’s recovery and how battles don’t define you. We didn’t see John in church or reading a Bible once, so if you were looking for something packing a faith-filled punch, you won’t find it here.
Soul on Fire gets a 9 out of 10. It’s a great story with a great cast. DeVon Franklin was made for this, and John Corbett gives a career-defining performance. Anyone who suffers from self-doubt or feels they’re undeserving of good things (love, kindness, etc.) will leave this film assured that they are enough. The father-son dynamic here is powerful. It’s enough to hand audiences a gut-check to call their parents after the film. But with subjects so serious, is Soul on Fire for kids or adults? Could be both…
Soul on Fire is in theatres now.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of AFFIRM Films
Genre: Biography
Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 hr 52 minutes
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: October 10, 2025