Firestarter (1984)

Director:

Mark L. Lester

Writers:

Stephen King (novel)
Stanley Mann (writer)

Release Date:

11 May 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

She has the power . . . an evil destructive force.

Plot:

A couple who participated in a potent medical experiment gain telekinetic ability and then have a child who is pyrokinetic.

Plot Keywords:

Experiment | Fire | Government | Psychic | Doctor

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

David Keith	...	Andrew 'Andy' McGee
Drew Barrymore	...	Charlene 'Charlie' McGee
Freddie Jones	...	Doctor Joseph Wanless
Heather Locklear	...	Victoria 'Vicky' Tomlinson McGee
Martin Sheen	...	Captain Hollister
George C. Scott	...	John Rainbird
Art Carney	...	Irv Manders
Louise Fletcher	...	Norma Manders
Moses Gunn	...	Doctor Pynchot
Antonio Fargas	...	Taxi Driver
Drew Snyder	...	Orville Jamieson
Curtis Credel	...	Bates
Keith Colbert	...	Mayo
Dick Warlock	...	Knowles (as Richard Warlock)
Jeff Ramsey	...	Steinowitz

Runtime:

114 min | Germany:101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG | Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:18 (original rating) | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | Norway:16 (heavily cut) | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Spain:13 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia)

Filming Locations:

Chimney Rock Park - Highway 64/74A, Chimney Rock, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Trivia:

The book "Creepshows" by Stephen Jones says that David Keith was 14th choice.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Cap Hollister is first in the room with Charlie, the door behind him is open over his left shoulder after he had closed it. Then when the camera shot changes again the door is closed.

Quotes:

Charlie McGee: [to the agent after he escorts her to the stables] Get out of here, you bastard! I'll burn you up! I'll fry you!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

The similarity to "Carrie" is indeed undeniable.

Based on the Stephen King novel, "Firestarter" tells the story of Charlie McGee (Drew Barrymore), more than just the offspring of parents Andy (David Keith) and Vicky (Heather Locklear) but the product of the drug experiment they took part in during their college days. They took something named "Lot Six", supposedly a hallucinogen. Years later, young Charlie has developed pyrokinesis, or the ability to start fires using the mind, which she has to put to good use as, now, dastardly government agents are relentlessly pursuing her and her dad so that her talents can be exploited.

This is another of those cases for myself where I'm unable to judge this as an adaptation, not having read the novel. As cinematic entertainment, it's certainly watchable enough. It's a pretty interesting story, even if as it plays out it doesn't deliver any real surprises. It moves forward at a fairly steady pace; flashback scenes are kept rather concise and the exposition is likewise never laid on too thick. Andy's own special power of being able to mentally direct other people into doing what he needs them to do leads to some good scenes; for one example; he tells two agents / thugs "You're blind." and they promptly lose their eyesight. Director Mark L. Lester leaped to the majors here after creating such great cult flicks as "Truck Stop Women", "Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw", and "Class of 1984", and "Firestarter" is certainly very competently made. It goes without saying that the stunts and special effects are highlights. The film is enjoyably manipulative enough so that we can get our blood-lust up and enjoy it when everything's been steered towards the over-the-top inferno of a climax.

I don't really believe that the major acting talent is wasted all that much. Barrymore (who, after playing in this, was cast in the following year's "Cat's Eye" by producer Dino De Laurentiis, who wanted to develop a vehicle for her specifically) was then still learning to act rather than just be cute, and even if she hadn't yet honed her craft, she gives it a good effort. Keith is very sincere as devoted dad Andy, with Martin Sheen slickly smarmy as a variation on the villain he played in the previous year's "The Dead Zone". Old pros Art Carney and especially George C. Scott do well; Scott's is definitely the most intriguing and well played role in the picture. He and Barrymore do get a good chemistry going. Freddie Jones is amusing in his screen time as blustery scientist Dr. Wanless, while Moses Gunn and Louise Fletcher don't get too much to do. Also appearing are Antonio Fargas as a cabbie and Drew Snyder as Jamieson, one of the chief agents involved in the pursuit.

Fairly exciting and involving, "Firestarter" isn't one of the top-flight King-based films, but it isn't a bad one either.

Followed by a made-for-TV sequel in 2002.

7/10