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Action thriller

Skyfire (2021): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Skyfire (2021) movie poster

Skyfire is a 2021 action thriller directed by Simon West, starring Hannah Quinlivan as Meng Li, Alice Rietveld and Jason Isaacs. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes. Critics gave it 57% on Rotten Tomatoes and 52 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10.

IMDb rating
5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
57%
Echo Score
67
Metascore
52
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Skyfire (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 37m (97 min)
Director
Simon West
Genres
Action , Drama , Thriller
Original language
Chinese
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Skyfire About?

The premise of Skyfire without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A brilliant scientist returns to a tropical island, the site of her mother's death, seeking redemption as volcanic activity threatens the region. The island's eccentric owner, Jack, prioritizes profit over safety, adding to the danger. When the volcano erupts, a desperate fight for survival ensues against a powerful and destructive force, testing the scientist’s resolve and endangering everyone on the island.

Skyfire Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • island
  • fire
  • resort
  • explosion
  • volcano
  • volcanic eruption
  • disaster
  • disaster film
  • psychotronic film
  • island resort
  • prologue
  • opening action scene
+38 more
  • younger version of character
  • little girl
  • one word title
  • 2010s
  • chinese
  • geologist
  • scientist
  • babe scientist
  • professor
  • entrepreneur
  • tour
  • sunglasses
  • south african
  • bilingualism
  • news report
  • media coverage
  • watching tv
  • surveillance
  • sensor
  • drone
  • exploding body
  • exploding boat
  • exploding building
  • exploding helicopter
  • helicopter
  • helicopter pilot
  • helicopter crash
  • jet ski
  • boat
  • speedboat
  • pier
  • laboratory
  • tent
  • bombardment
  • walkie talkie
  • jeep
  • palm tree
  • slow motion scene
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Cast & crew

Skyfire Cast & Characters

Hannah Quinlivan leads the cast as Meng Li, with Alice Rietveld as Sue Miller and Jason Isaacs as Jack Harris. Directed by Simon West; 14 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Skyfire

· 10 more
Ratings

Skyfire Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Skyfire 57% on Rotten Tomatoes and 52 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 67/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in character & emotion (45).

67 /100

Skyfire Echo Score Breakdown

Skyfire delivers a high-energy disaster experience defined by relentless action and vivid effects, though it falls short in depth and originality. Reviews highlight the film’s ability to sustain excitement with nonstop CGI spectacles and fast-paced thrills. However, critics and viewers alike point to formulaic plot elements and limited character development that undercut emotional engagement. The overall result is an entertaining popcorn flick that entertains in the moment but offers little in the way of lasting impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of art and craft, Skyfire presents dynamic visual sequences and a nod to classic disaster aesthetics. The film’s direction and cinematography showcase impressive CGI compositions and dramatic set pieces, evoking the rumble of 1970s thrillers. At times, reliance on digital effects leads to uneven realism and occasional immersion breaks. Overall, the technical execution feels competent but lacks consistent polish.

  • Character & Emotion 45

    When it comes to character and emotion, Skyfire struggles to establish meaningful depth or credible performances. Viewers and critics note frequent lapses into awkward dialogue and superficial character motivations that limit empathy. Occasional emotionally intense scenes emerge, yet they are insufficient to redeem pervasive dramatic shortcomings. Consequently, the film’s human element remains underdeveloped and fails to anchor the spectacle.

  • Story & Flow 70

    Regarding story and flow, Skyfire maintains a brisk, rollercoaster pace that keeps audiences engaged. The narrative hooks viewers with immediate peril and escalating disaster scenarios, providing steady suspense. Nevertheless, familiar setups and recycled plot beats invite criticism for lacking originality, and some find the premise increasingly tedious over time. On balance, the film delivers satisfying momentum but offers little narrative innovation.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    In terms of sensory experience, Skyfire excels with eye-catching visuals and robust sound design. The film’s special effects—particularly lava flows and erupting structures—are frequently praised for their scale and immersion. Dubbing quality also receives positive mention, maintaining clarity in translated dialogue. A handful of effects falter or feel overly synthetic, yet the overall audiovisual presentation remains a key strength.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    With regard to rewatch factor, Skyfire offers modest replay value rooted in its guilty-pleasure thrills. The nonstop action and spectacular set pieces may entice genre fans to revisit key sequences. However, the movie’s shallow character work and formulaic storyline diminish its staying power beyond initial viewings. Ultimately, it provides limited lasting appeal once its visual spectacle is fully experienced.

Plot

Skyfire Plot Summary

What happens in Skyfire from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

On the picturesque island of Tian-Huo, a team of scientists is busy examining a dormant volcano. Young Meng Li expresses her concerns to her mother, Sue Miller, stating, “the snow is on fire.” Initially dismissing her daughter’s words as impossible, Sue soon realizes that Meng is witnessing ash being ejected from the volcano. Within moments, fiery rocks shoot from the volcano like meteors, forcing the researchers at the base camp to evacuate urgently. Sue manages to place Meng on one of the departure trucks but cannot board herself. Her husband, Professor Tao, attempts to reach her in his jeep but meets with a disastrous accident, leaving Sue with a heartbreaking farewell as a hot cloud of gas swells toward her.

Full summary

The whole story of Skyfire, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Skyfire?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

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Where is the movie Skyfire set?

Details

Skyfire Also Known As

Also known as “Gökyüzü Yanıyor”.

Also known as
  • Gökyüzü Yanıyor

Seen Skyfire?

FAQ

Skyfire FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Skyfire, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Skyfire?

Skyfire runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).

When was Skyfire released?

Skyfire was released on January 12, 2021.

Who directed Skyfire?

Skyfire was directed by Simon West.

More films by Simon West

Who is in the cast of Skyfire?

Skyfire stars Hannah Quinlivan as Meng Li, Alice Rietveld as Sue Miller and Jason Isaacs as Jack Harris, among 14 credited actors.

How is Skyfire rated?

Skyfire has 5.3/10 on IMDb, 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, 52 on Metacritic and 2.9/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Skyfire have a post-credit scene?

No. Skyfire has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Skyfire in?

The original language of Skyfire is Chinese.

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