Devil's games (Devil's Play) is a 2025 British-Bulgarian fantasy thriller film directed by Ben Charles Edwards from a screenplay by Ben Charles Edwards and Mike Shilliam. The film premiered in Bulgaria on 7 February 2025.
„Devil's games“" (also known as The Wheels of Heaven) is a British-Bulgarian fantasy drama with thriller elements that brings to the screen the universal themes of faith, maturation and the duality between good and evil. It is a production with the ambition to combine mystical motifs and psychological tension, bringing to life stories of teenage crises, existential dilemmas and religious symbols, filmed on multiple locations in Bulgaria, London and Los Angeles.
The film follows Eva, a confused and troubled teenager whose family problems and inner demons have left her on the brink of despair. Her life changes when she meets a charismatic young man who claims to be the fallen angel Lucifer, sent to guide her. He gives her the strength to face her real and inner fears, but also sets her on a dangerous mission. The tense dynamic between the mystical and the real leads Eva to the edge of morality - does the path to truth lie through destruction, and what does it really mean to choose good or evil?
Director Ben Charles Edwards strikes a balance between fantasy elements and dramatic intimacy. The camera works with both dynamic and contemplative shots, building an atmosphere of tension and suspense. The style is visually diverse – scenes between different locations create a sense of scale, but the focus remains on Eva’s inner world. The production support and international team suggest an ambition for a film with global potential, despite the relatively modest budget.
Eleonora Ivanova presents Iva with genuine vulnerability – her performance is the center of the film's emotional charge, as her character goes through many internal upheavals. Dimitar Nikolov as the mysterious "fallen angel" brings charisma and ambiguity, which is central to the theme of good and evil in the plot. Mickey Rourke impresses with a special participation, adding weight and self-confidence to an image that combines religious charisma with dark motives. Gary Stretch and Desi Tenekedjieva round out the ensemble with steady, dense performances that add depth to the secondary storylines as the rapidly developing conflict unfolds.
„Devil's games“" is a film that touches on a wide range of themes – from traditional questions of good and evil to the personal journey of searching for identity and meaning. It is a production with an interesting concept and international spirit, carrying both dramatic and mystical elements, but the criticism awaiting it in terms of rhythm and structuring emphasizes that the film may work better for viewers looking for thought and thematic multi-layering than a purely entertaining thriller.
