Firestarter (1984)

This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

Absolutely Fantastic

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Great special effects almost "save" a very stupid movie. "The Fury" made 6 years earlier is a far better concept film. Like the still-popular "X-Men" type films, how or why such genetic abnormalities and powers exist is never explained. Mutated parents=mutated kid. Blame the government! King usually mentions the original author in his forwards to avoid outright plagiarism charges. Big deal. Too much like "Carrie" which has a far better premise and delivery. Here, cute and angelic Drew Barrymore is in reality a cold-blooded killer and has repeated temper tantrums with horrific results. I am unable to have any sympathy for her character "Charlie". The fireball ending kills off 50 to 100 people or so. Mostly faceless agents, firefighters and cops, not to mention most of the principle players. I just don't like it because the special effects are too good for the weak premise. Why would she "turn herself in" to The New York Times at the end? She would certainly be jailed, killed or institutionalized for the rest of her natural life! Would Shirley Temple have made a movie like this? Fun only if you like to see miniature pyrotechnics and hysterical extras running around in fire-suits. I guess that's why it's a horror film?

Manny's Movie Musings: "Firestarter" adapts Stephen King's book of the same name, and stars Drew Barrymore playing the title role and David Keith as her protective father. Both father and daughter have super powers (Barrymore can set almost anything on fire) due to a government experiment, and now they are hunted down for more experimentation and ultimate disposal. My most memorable, movie moment of "Firestarter" is the scene when Barrymore walks out of a burning barn, ready to kill and burn everything and everyone she sees — a little girl with an adorable face but with the power of the devil. Although "Firestarter" has the feel of a movie of the week and has several shenanigans (e.g., the bad guys make the laughably bad assumption that Keith has lost his powers and therefore doesn't need that much supervision), overall it is very entertaining (mostly due to Barrymore's adorable portrayal of her character), and the part when Barrymore goes off on the bad guys is very satisfying.Mannysmemorablemoviemoments

Film versions of Stephen King novels can be a tricky thing. Often they're half assed, clunky miniseries (ever tried to sit down and watch The Langoliers??), and when they're given the lofty cinema treatment, he has famously turned his nose in the face of Kubrick's might. I feel like Firestarter escaped unscathed, and still holds to this day, if a bit achingly retro now. It's a thriller perceived in a childlike manner by its young protagonist, Charlie Mcgee (Drew Barrymore). Charlie can start fires with her mind, and certain shadowy agencies just can't wait to get their hands on her. Her father (David Keith) once participated in some scary drug testing related to telekinesis back in the day, and some of whatever altered his DNA has been passed on to her. He will do anything to protect her, as the two frantically race across the country to safety, pursued by forces working for Hollister (Martin Sheen), a spook with too much power and nasty ideas about what to do with it. Also on their trail is pseudo spiritual whacko John Rainbird, who wants to absorb Charlie's abilities, man what a freak. Rainbird is a native American in King's novel, so white haired yankee boy Scott is an odd choice, but he does a fine job all the same. Two things are what makes this one really stand out in a special way. Tangerine Dream provides yet another ultrasonic, elemental synth score that has since become legendary. It accents the story in an almost fairy tale like way, gilding the danger with a fable style sound, but never stamping out the real menace. Barrymore is the other leg of the table, giving one hell of a fierce and vulnerable performance for such a young girl, her childlike honesty a prism for the audience to see the evil around her through innocent eyes. It's great stuff, and one of the most solid King adaptations out there. Now there is a sequel (not sure if the man wrote a second book?) called Firestarter 2: Rekindled, which pales in comparison and runs about 45 minutes too long (!), but it's worth a look for the casting of Marguerite Moreau as a grown up Charlie, Malcolm McDowell taking over from Scott as Rainbird, and Dennis Hopper as well.

Too many reviews on IMDb complain about this title not being scary. One talks about the first half being scary, but the second not. It's not supposed to be scary, horror scary at all, but is more in line with 1984 and the idea of government agencies overreaching. It is way more SciFi than horror with. Conspiracy theory thrown in for good nature. My biggest problem is George C. Scott as the antagonist who is supposed to be Native American. This is not a great film, nor is it a bad film. Watch and decide. It is A Stephen King film involving the Shop. It is therefore, connected to Golden Years and other stories. Keep in mind that it is not IT and it is not one of his multiple ghost stories. This is a psychological SciFi flick that borders on dystopian.