One Change In Netflix’s Man On Fire Show Makes It Better Than Denzel Washington’s Movie

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The new Netflix series, Man on Fire, makes a key improvement to the story compared to the 2004 Denzel Washington film, though the two are only loosely connected. Both the movie and the show are based on the A.J. Quinnell novels, but the movie covers the first book, while the series adapts the first two.

These new adaptations are being compared to each other because they both feature the same character, the tragic hero John Creasy. Audiences will likely recognize Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Denzel Washington as the actors who have portrayed this role.

Look, I get why audiences love the 2004 Man on Fire. It’s a genuinely good film, but let’s be real, it’s not perfect. As a critic, I have to point out the flaws, and there are a couple that really stand out. The editing feels really jumpy and all over the place, which pulls you out of the story. And honestly, there’s a significant issue with the way the narrative unfolds – it just doesn’t quite hang together as smoothly as it should.

The original movie Man on Fire downplayed the psychological trauma experienced by the main character, John Creasy, instead highlighting his struggles with alcohol and suicidal thoughts. As someone who writes about mental health and understands psychology, I was impressed that the TV series Man on Fire addressed this by giving Creasy’s PTSD the attention it deserved. This deeper look at his trauma is a key reason why the series is so compelling.

Netflix’s Man On Fire Handles John Creasy’s Trauma With More Care

The team behind Netflix’s Man on Fire series immediately decided they wanted to portray John Creasy’s trauma differently than the 2004 film starring Denzel Washington. Director and executive producer Steven Caple Jr. explained their approach in a recent interview with Comicbook.com.

We likely landed on the right approach with the imagery of covering someone’s head – it visually captured this character’s unusual way of dealing with a difficult past.

Even though the character drinks occasionally, we didn’t want the story to be simply about alcoholism or drug abuse. We consciously avoided focusing on substance abuse, both in how the story looked and how the character was written. Kyle, one of the writers, specifically asked how we could ensure the story explored something more meaningful and complex.

It’s common for people with PTSD to also struggle with alcohol abuse. A 2023 study found that nearly half (46.4%) of individuals with PTSD also met the criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder or another substance use disorder. (Source: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, published by Springer Nature Link).

Those symptoms by themselves wouldn’t have been enough to diagnose him with PTSD, either using the standards from 2004 or today’s criteria. PTSD is a much more complex condition. Fortunately, the extended length of the Man on Fire TV series allowed the creators to explore John Creasy’s emotional and psychological state in greater detail.

Netflix’s Man On Fire Shows The Complexity & Long-Term Impacts Of Trauma

The Netflix version of Man on Fire portrays trauma in a more nuanced way and doesn’t avoid showing the difficult symptoms of PTSD. While Creasy still struggles with drinking and attempts suicide – elements present in all versions of the story – this adaptation also depicts him experiencing frequent flashbacks and nightmares that disrupt his everyday life.

I’ve noticed he really keeps to himself, especially when things start to remind him of his past – he seems to avoid anything that might upset him. It’s more than just getting angry or running away, though. Sometimes, when he’s triggered, he completely shuts down, even faints. It’s actually really important to see this on TV because a lot of people don’t realize there’s more to trauma responses than just fighting or fleeing. We usually hear about those, but there’s also freezing, trying to please everyone (fawning), collapsing (flopping), and even fainting. This show does a great job of showing all the different ways trauma can affect someone, which is something I haven’t really seen before.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II brilliantly portrays the frightening reality of PTSD, convincingly showing both the physical and emotional effects – from tense muscles to overwhelming panic and fear.

The Man on Fire series did a good job of showing how Creasy and Poe dealt with trauma in different ways. Creasy had long-term PTSD, while Poe was dealing with immediate, acute trauma. It’s great to see the show portray a variety of symptoms and how trauma can affect people differently, rather than just one single experience.

It was really touching to see Creasy and Poe support each other and begin to heal, even in small ways. This dynamic wasn’t just heartwarming – it beautifully illustrated the power of community in the healing process, which is a key idea in many approaches to treatment.

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2026-05-02 20:29