Stanko's Stance

“A young girl tries to understand how she mysteriously gained the power to set things on fire with her mind.”

Director: Keith Thomas
Writers: Scott Teems, Stephen King (Based Off Book)
Staring: Zac Efron, Gloria Reuben, Ryan Kierra Armstrong
Release Date: May 13, 2022

Listen, I am a fan of Stephen King books. I read only them for like 4 straight years. I did not read Firestarter, but if this trailer is any indication of the book…then I am going to politely pass. Yikes.

There was really nothing redeeming about this trailer; the writing and acting came off as way too earnest, and the special effects appear to be on par with a basic cable show.

The movie stars Zac Efron as Andy McGee, the father of Charlie McGee (Ryan Kiera Armstrong). Charlie has the ability to create, control and manipulate fire. This “superpower” is something that she needs to learn to control, or it will control her. Let’s also add on the fact that many people want Charlie for her powers and what it can mean.

I think that Firestarter is playing on the superhero phase of now, but a movie like this is going to struggle to find an audience. This looks like Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island (2020).

It is interesting that Firestarter gives the outlandish and unpopular kid the power from the jump. It is the opposite of the Carrie where the titular character is powerless and then comes by power that she uses violently. In Firestarter Charlie needs to control something she already has, and she may need to show restraint rather than bloody violence in the movie’s final act.

This movie is a remake of a 1984 movie of the same name based off the same book. That movie got poor reviews as well, but it may surprise you to find out that Drew Barrymore was the lead child in the original. Here is too hoping that this remake is better than the original.

Firestarter looks to light up the box office on May 13, 2022.

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