FIRESTARTER

US, 2022, 94 minutes, Colour.

Zac Efron, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Sydney Lemmon, Michael Greyeyes, Gloria Reubin, Kurtwood Smith, John Beasley, Tina Jung.

Directed by Keith Thomas.

The first version of Stephen King’s Firestarter was released in 1984, starring a young Drew Barrymore, her next film after her success in ET. With its pyrotechnic themes and telepathy, it was linked with King’s Carrie. Now, almost 40 years later, umpteen by umpteen versions, cinema and television series, of Stephen King’s numerous tales, here is a new version of Firestarter.

Reviews, comment and box office success of been rather negative. As might be expected, a lot of the criticism has been along the lines of “unnecessary remake”. However, while this might be important for devotees of adaptation of Stephen King’s stories, it may not be so relevant to ordinary cinemagoers, in the cinemas or watching streaming. They may not have read the novel. They may not remember the 1984 version. Which means that they would be coming to this version without presuppositions.

In fact, some comments have reminded audiences that the original novel is 500+ pages. Here we have a 94 minute film (including five minutes of final credits). Obviously, not all the novel has been incorporated into the screenplay. Rather, one might say this is something of a streamlined version, the core of the story and the characters fitting into a brief and brisk drama. The characters are the same as in the previous version, including the main names. However, the sinister Captain Hollister is now played by a woman, Gloria Reubin.

The screenplay is more straightforward in its narrative, allowing for some flashbacks. The setting is established, the little girl, Charlie (Ryan Kiera Armstrong who has already appeared in a Stephen King adaptation, It Chapter 2) has innate firestarting powers. Her parents, Zac Efron and Sydney Lemmon, also have powers but are protective of their daughter. However, the powers that be at the Institute wanted Charlie back for further study and experimentation. There is a glimpse of Dr Wanless who initiated the processes, played by veteran Kurtwood Smith, and a previous subject with psychopathic tendencies, Rainbow (Michael Grayeyes).

While some early scenes established family life, Charlie considered weird at school, a sympathetic teacher, her fire rage breaks out and the family have to go on the run. The main episode concerns an old man, Irv (John Beasley) picking up father and daughter and giving them some hospitality. However, Security is short lived and the police are called, Rainbow arrives leading to a massacre.

Then, quickly, her father is interned in the Institute, Charlie finds her way back and there is a confrontation, multiple fires, apocalyptic.

Not the most startling of Stephen King’s adaptations, but a brief story exploring and dramatising some of his themes.

1. Popularity of Stephen King’s stories? The original Firestarter, 1984? Remake or adaptation?
2. The brief running time, taking the core of the novel? How effective?
3. The background, the Institute, Dr Wanless, aims and ambitions, Capt Hollister, the experiments, the effects, on Rainbow? On Charlie? The background of her parents and their powers?
4. The scene of the parents with the baby, love for her, the balls, the fire, extinguishing it? The transition to Charlie aged nine? Home life, ordinary? At school, considered weird? Sport, throwing the ball, her being hit, containing her rage? Her teacher, sympathetic? The toilet sequence and the fire? The principal, the interviews with the parents?
5. Andy and Vicky, the story of the meeting, marriage, Andy and his powers, as illustrated with the client who came to give up smoking, his intensity, his eyes, the blood? Success?
6. Rainbow, his character, from the Institute, Hollister sending him out, his quest, the attacks, the violence? Interactions with Charlie? The continued pursuit, the police, at Irv’s house, the shootout, Charley escaping? Rainbow’s pursuit?
7. The parents, the decision to escape, Rainbow and his attack on Vicky, her death?
8. The escape, abandoning the car, being picked up by Irv, his hospitality, his wife and the accident, Charley communicating with her, stating the truth about the accident, forgiving her husband?
9. The television news, and his reaction, Irv’s phoning the police, warding them off? Rainbow and the attack?
10. The capture of Andy, in the cell, tied up?
11. Charlie, going to seek her father, the three boys, the bike, infiltrating the establishment, the agent, the confrontation in the car, his death, the card, the entry, the security? The interaction with Hollister, the threat of fire and consuming her father? Andy, offering himself for her safety? Their being burnt?
12. The escape, Rainbow, the encounter with Charlie the lake – offering his hand? The future?