Firestarter
A pyrokinetic girl and her father flee a secret government agency determined to turn her supernatural gift into a controllable weapon.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- foreboding
- paranoid
- propulsive
- 1980s horror night
- stephen king marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the adaptation visually forceful but dramatically flat, with weak characterization and an oversimplified treatment of Stephen King's material.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Shop quarantines and studies Charlie because of her pyrokinesis, turning government power into the central threat.
Charlie inherits psychic potential from her parents' experiment and manifests it as increasingly dangerous fire-starting power.
Charlie’s ability to ignite objects and people culminates in large-scale fire effects and a major conflagration.
Charlie is both a frightened young daughter and the target of adults seeking to control her abilities.
Films like Firestarter, and why
Scanners
shared themes of government experimentation, hunted psychic children, and paranoid science fiction horror
The Fury
shared focus on a young person with extraordinary powers pursued by secretive authorities in a tense supernatural thriller
Carrie
shared 1980s atmosphere, telekinetic abilities, and horror built around institutional exploitation
The Last Starfighter
shared themes of extraordinary children, government interest, and protective family bonds within science fiction suspense
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark L. Lester
- Release Date
- 1984-05-11
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (797)
Cast
- Drew Barrymore
- David Keith
- Freddie Jones
- Heather Locklear
- Martin Sheen
- George C. Scott
- Art Carney
- Louise Fletcher
- Moses Gunn
- Antonio Fargas
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Firestarter about?
- A pyrokinetic girl and her father flee a secret government agency determined to turn her supernatural gift into a controllable weapon.
- What is Firestarter like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Firestarter as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Firestarter violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Firestarter as moderate.
- What did critics think of Firestarter?
- Critics broadly found the adaptation visually forceful but dramatically flat, with weak characterization and an oversimplified treatment of Stephen King's material.
- Which films are like Firestarter?
- Films with a similar feel include Scanners, The Fury, Carrie, and The Last Starfighter.
- How long is Firestarter?
- Firestarter runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Firestarter?
- In United States, Firestarter is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
