Firestarter movie review

Firestarter, released in 1984, stars a young Drew Barrymore, Martin Sheen, George C. Scott, and David Kieth. The movie is based on Stephen King's classic novel of the same name. Drew Barrymore read the novel when it came out and said to her mom that she would play Charlie, and sure enough a few years passed and she did end up getting the role, this being the second Stephen King movie that the young actress appeared in, Cat's Eye being the other. Firestarter is about Andy (David Kieth), and his daughter Charlie (Drew Barrymore), who are on the run from a secret government organization known as "The Shop". Through a series of flashbacks we learn why they are on the run. So Charlie's parents Andy and Vicky (Heather Locklear) while in college participated in a drug testing, where they were injected with a drug known only as Lot-6. Most of the participants in the test died from the drug, but Andy and Vicky survived, and the side effects gave them powers, Andy's power is the ability to control people's minds. The first half of the story follows Andy and Charlie fleeing the Shop, through more flash backs we learn how Charlie's mother was murdered by the Shop when they were trying to capture Charlie. Ever since the experiment the Shop has been following the lives of the survivors, and Charlie is the only child born of two survivors, and she was born with pyrokinetic powers, and the Shop wants to study her and find out her potential use as a weapon. The Shop is ran by Captain James Hollister (Martin Sheen), and after a failed attempt to capture her at the farm of a nice old man and his wife who helped Andy and Charlie, which ended in a lot of men from the Shop being burned to death by Charlie, Captain Hollister sent out John Rainbird to capture them. Which he does. He then brings them to the shop headquarters. The rest of the movie takes place here, where the father and daughter are kept separated in their own cells, which are actually luxury suites, with all of the comforts of home, but still a secured prison cell nonetheless. Rainbird possess as an orderly to gain Charlie's friendship and to manipulate her for their purposes. But it appears that the Shop got more than they bargained for as they underestimated her power, and the bond of father and daughter. The casting of this film is really well done, with the exception of George C Scott as John Rainbird, not because of any fault of George C Scott, but because the character is a Native American, and it seems kinda fucked up that they got an old white man to play his role, when there are many capable native actors who could have been wonderful for that role. Everyone else did an amazing job in their roles. The settings are okay, but it kind of bothered me that it was all set in and filmed in North Carolina, when the book took place in New England, with a large part taking place in Vermont, which would have been a beautiful place to film the movie in. There were also various other changes from the book, but overall the movie is a really good movie. Many critics have pointed out that the movie does suffer from being a bit slow, some even calling it boring. I don't fully agree with that, but it is a bit slow going at parts, but the story in the film I feel carries it on, as does the great work of the characters. I actually really enjoy this movie a lot, I love the character development, that is told through the use of the flashback sequences, I felt that was really well done. I wonder however how the movie would have been if the original director who was set to do it would have been able to stay on, it would have been great to see how John Carpenter would have treated this amazing story. Would I recommend this movie? Yes, but it might not be everyone's taste. It definitely appeals to Stephen King fans, as well as fans of Drew Barrymore. Also it is interesting seeing Martin Sheen playing in another King movie, and that his character is even a bit similar to the one he played in The Dead Zone. I loved this book, and I felt that the film did it justice, obviously not as good as the book, but still definitely a joy to watch. So if you are okay with a slower paced movie from the 80's based on a great Stephen King novel, and starring one of my favourite actresses, Drew Barrymore, then this is a must see film, if none of those things appeal to you, and you need something more fast paced and modern, then this might be one you could skip. I do encourage people to watch these older films, and appreciate the great work of the practical effects.