Most Stephen King horror adaptations are entertaining, but the most disturbing ones are the ones dealing with psychic phenomena, like FIRESTARTER and THE DEAD ZONE. For me, the power of the human mind is more horrific than giant alien spiders, vampires, or serial killers. FIRESTARTER is indeed a powerful film, and the power lies in the actors involved, not just the fiery power of the special effects unit. Indeed, the strength of the characterisations are the best thing about this film.Martin Sheen has much the same power-hungry role as he did in 1983's THE DEAD ZONE, while Freddie Jones has a small role as a nervous doctor. However, it is George C. Scott as the brilliant yet crazed man out to snag Barrymore's powers for himself in the afterlife who has the best role, and he really is totally evil. David Keith is an effective hero, while Heather Locklear has another small role as his wife. Drew Barrymore is also good as the young girl who doesn't want to use her powers but is forced to, and it's a wonder that she didn't use them to destroy the killer in SCREAM.The story is also a fairly original one, and it's more of a thriller than a conventional horror film. The budget is relatively low until the pyrotechnic ending where just about everything explodes, and things do tend to get a bit talky. However there are some dollops of tension lashed throughout the film and plenty of interest lies within the various machinations of the characters. FIRESTARTER is a thought-provoking ride through the powers of the mind and probably not suitable viewing for those who have tendencies involving pyromania.

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.

Drew makes this movie. "Back off, back off!" George C. Scott as John Rain man is so good that you just can't help but to despise him. It's only a movie, but just the same, weird that John would believe that by killing little Charlie, he could take her power with him when he dies, although native Indian tribes probably had some of those same beliefs. It's also hard to believe that secret associations/companies like that of "The Shop" exist in the real world, but that could be true for whatever purpose or reason. The musical score was good too, particularly eerie during the scene where Charlie decimates the Shop/mansion and affiliates in the house and grounds.

The Government is running a secret facility known as 'The Shop'. The man in charge is Captain Hollister (Sheen) who oversees drug experiments on human guinea pigs. Andrew Mcgee (Keith) meets Vicky (Heather Locklear) while going there and the experiments go south quick. Andrew can control things with his mind and make people do things against their will. It drains him terribly when he does it, but he has a power the government is interested in. When the couple has a kid named Charlie (Barrymore) they discover she has the ability to start fires just by thinking about it. Captain Hollister sees Charlie as a terrific weapon to be used but Andrew takes his daughter on the lamb wanting simply to be left alone. They use their powers only when they half to. This makes up the first half of the movie. The second half has the two captured at The Shop. Once separated, they work on Charlie to win her over. Hollister's most deviant agent is John Rainbird (Scott) a Native American who poses as a janitor and wins over Charlie's trust. Eventually Andrew hatches an escape plan and a fiery conclusion ensues. Hollywood was desperate for Stephen King stories in the mid 1980's seeing it as box office gold even if the movie wasn't very good. This probably explains the first class treatment this film got with a huge Hollywood cast filling out the bill even in small roles. No doubt King's novel must have been interesting, but something was lost in the translation to the screen. Not only is this not scary in the slightest, it's not even very interesting. Sheen overacts terribly in spots and even though George C. Scott is a terrific actor, you must wonder why he was cast as a Native American in this evil role. To Scott's credit, he is the only menace or feeling of evil in the film with his impure desire to destroy Charlie in the end. This overlong movie suffers pacing problems and inconsistent acting from young Drew Barrymore who is impressive in one scene and terrible in the next. At one time Director John Carpenter was picked to direct this picture but Universal was unhappy with his box office results on "The Thing" and yanked the job away from him. Carpenter would have delivered a more interesting film than this one turned out to be. It shows you what Universal knows.