So many movies ... so much to celebrate!!!
There were a lot of truly great movies that came out of the 1980's ... but -- ahem -- 1984's Firestarter wasn't one of them. Of course, I mean no disrespect to author Stephen King and director Mark L, Lester because their efforts were just fine. Methinks the problem herein lies with a great many King adaptations, that being that the ideas, concepts, and characters don't always work as well on the silver screen as they do in the reader's imagination. Some of what's in there just gets lost in translation, and the end result often times is that the films feel like cheap interpretations of the seminal bullet points presented in the original story. As they say ... it is what it is.
For purists who generally gripe about the way in which SciFiHistory.Net catalogues these features, this was not the full U.S. theatrical release (which a great many tend to respect). IMDB.com indicates that this was a special theatrical premiere engagement held in the big city of Wilmington, North Carolina. According to Google.com, the picture did so because it allegedy was the first flick filmed in the town; and it's even reported that the production brought a good deal of follow-up work to the area for the motion picture industry. Firestarter would go on to premiere nationally on May 11th across the United States; and it rolled out in other regions over the course of the next few months.
According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A couple who participated in a potent medical experiment gain telepathic ability and then have a child who is pyrokinetic."
For the record:
At the 1985 Saturn Awards (sponsored by the Academy Of Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror Films), Firestarter enjoyed a pair of nominations -- but no wins -- in the categories of 'Best Performance By A Younger Actor' and 'Best Horror Film.'
-- EZ
There were a lot of truly great movies that came out of the 1980's ... but -- ahem -- 1984's Firestarter wasn't one of them. Of course, I mean no disrespect to author Stephen King and director Mark L, Lester because their efforts were just fine. Methinks the problem herein lies with a great many King adaptations, that being that the ideas, concepts, and characters don't always work as well on the silver screen as they do in the reader's imagination. Some of what's in there just gets lost in translation, and the end result often times is that the films feel like cheap interpretations of the seminal bullet points presented in the original story. As they say ... it is what it is.
For purists who generally gripe about the way in which SciFiHistory.Net catalogues these features, this was not the full U.S. theatrical release (which a great many tend to respect). IMDB.com indicates that this was a special theatrical premiere engagement held in the big city of Wilmington, North Carolina. According to Google.com, the picture did so because it allegedy was the first flick filmed in the town; and it's even reported that the production brought a good deal of follow-up work to the area for the motion picture industry. Firestarter would go on to premiere nationally on May 11th across the United States; and it rolled out in other regions over the course of the next few months.
According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A couple who participated in a potent medical experiment gain telepathic ability and then have a child who is pyrokinetic."
For the record:
At the 1985 Saturn Awards (sponsored by the Academy Of Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror Films), Firestarter enjoyed a pair of nominations -- but no wins -- in the categories of 'Best Performance By A Younger Actor' and 'Best Horror Film.'
-- EZ
From Google.com:
Released in 1984, Firestarter is a science fiction-horror thriller based on Stephen King's 1980 novel. The film stars a young Drew Barrymore as Charlie McGee, an eight-year-old girl born with pyrokinesis—the ability to start fires and control heat with her mind.
Plot Overview
The story follows Charlie and her father, Andy (David Keith), as they are pursued by a secret government agency known as "The Shop".
Cast and Production
Reception and Legacy
Released in 1984, Firestarter is a science fiction-horror thriller based on Stephen King's 1980 novel. The film stars a young Drew Barrymore as Charlie McGee, an eight-year-old girl born with pyrokinesis—the ability to start fires and control heat with her mind.
Plot Overview
The story follows Charlie and her father, Andy (David Keith), as they are pursued by a secret government agency known as "The Shop".
- The Origin: While in college, Andy and his future wife Vicky participated in a government experiment involving a drug called "Lot 6." This gave them psychic abilities and resulted in Charlie being born with her volatile pyrokinetic gift.
- The Conflict: After The Shop murders Vicky and attempts to kidnap Charlie, Andy goes on the run with his daughter. The agency seeks to capture Charlie to study and potentially weaponize her power.
- The Climax: The pair is eventually captured and taken to a facility where an assassin named John Rainbird (George C. Scott) manipulates Charlie into testing her powers. The film concludes with a massive practical-effects showdown where Charlie unleashes her full fury to destroy the facility.
Cast and Production
- Director: Mark L. Lester.
- Key Cast:
- Drew Barrymore as Charlie McGee.
- David Keith as Andy McGee.
- George C. Scott as John Rainbird.
- Martin Sheen as Captain James Hollister.
- Heather Locklear as Vicky McGee.
- Practical Effects: The film is notable for using real flames and elaborate practical stunts rather than CGI to depict Charlie's powers.
- Soundtrack: The German electronic group Tangerine Dream provided the film's moody synth score.
Reception and Legacy
- Critical Response: The film received mixed reviews upon release. While critics like Roger Ebert praised the cast but found the plot boring, it has since gained a cult following for its practical effects and Barrymore's performance.
- Stephen King's View: King famously described the adaptation as "flavorless" and "one of the worst of the bunch" of his work's adaptations at the time.
- Follow-ups: A TV miniseries sequel, Firestarter: Rekindled, aired in 2002, and a feature film remake starring Zac Efron was released in 2022.
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