Stephen King Week: Firestarter

I have to confess that I am a huge pyro. For people that have known me a long time, this is not a huge surprise. I mention this only to put into context why I cut Firestarter more slack than I probably should. Yes, it's not a particularly great movie. But I would say it falls firmly into the category of guilty pleasure for me. The reasons should be obvious. To put it succinctly, this movie is a pyromaniac's dream.

Charlie McGee (played by Drew Barrymore) and her dad, Andy (played by David Keith) are on the run from a secret government agency called The Shop. Andy and Charlie's mother Vicky (played by Heather Locklear), participated in a government experiment called Lot 6, the result of which gave them both psychic powers. Their child, Charlie, has the power to start fires with her mind. When The Shop discovers what Charlie can do, they try to apprehend Charlie with Vicky being killed in the process. Andy is able to intervene and get away with Charlie. Now on the run, with dwindling resources, the two try to figure out a way to escape the endless pursuit between them and The Shop. Along the way, they meet Irv Manders (played by Art Carney) and his wife Maude (played by Louise Fletcher). After a standoff between Charlie and several Shop agents on the Manders farm results in several cremated agents, The Shop director Hollister (played by Martin Sheen) tries a new tactic by allowing assassin John Rainbird (played by George C. Scott) to bring her in. Rainbird agrees on the condition that when The Shop is done with Charlie he gets to kill her. 

In the grand spectrum of films adapted from the works of Stephen King, Firestarter falls somewhere in the middle. It's not one of his worst, but it's also not good enough to rank with the likes of The Shawshank Redemption, The Mist, Stand by Me or Misery. But it's not terrible either. It has an engaging story about a father and daughter, both gifted (or cursed, depending on how you look at it) with extraordinary powers. Dad can influence the behavior of others with his mind and the daughter can start fires with just a glance. The film also has some impressive practical effects and stunt work that still looks good over thirty years later. Drew Barrymore gives an appealing performance as Charlie. George C. Scott, although miscast as a psychotic Native American assassin, at least gives a decent performance and is appropriately threatening in the role of John Rainbird. The film is also well paced and engaging throughout at a deliberate slow boil pace so that when we finally reach the inevitable conclusion when Charlie fully unleashes her power and lays waste to the entire Shop compound in glorious pyrotechnic glory, it feels earned (this really isn't a spoiler, we all know it's coming). Also, I can't help but love that gloriously eighties Tangerine Dream score. There is also a scene where they show Charlie playing an Atari system and can you guess what game she is playing? The infamous E.T: The Extra Terrestrial Atari game. I offer a slow clap to whoever's brilliant idea that was. 

Overall, Firestarter is a decent movie but also one that just kinda smolders along for much of it's run time, occasionally bursting into flame before becoming fully alight at the end. Despite it's flaws, I still enjoyed it just as much watching it this time as I did before. But then again, I may be a bit biased.