Having never seen 1984's Firestarter until now, I always kind of assumed it would be a cheap, independently produced exploitation horror film. But as I started watching I realised this is a glossy, big budget studio adaptation of a Stephen King novel.
And, as such, I was pleasantly surprised at what I found.
It being a King story means it's a rambling story with an ensemble cast where the supernatural elements don't get exploited until the final reel. It's talky but never boring, more a thriller than a horror, and a generally solid story that would have been told more effectively in 45 minutes of an X-Files episode (and probably was come to think of it).
The casting is fantastic from cute ikle Drew Barrymore as the moppet that can start blazes with her mind, Martin Sheen as the shady government dude that wants to discover her secrets and the enigmatic George C Scott as a mysterious assassin for hire. Scott's character is the most intriguing aspect of the film as he seems to be a complex combination of conflicting morality. He's a quietly composed professional killer who completes his tasks with a ruthless efficiency and a cool emotional detachment. On the other hand he's a creepy old guy obsessed with the tiny Drew Barrymore and wanting to spend all his time with her and demanding she be handed over to him on the completion of the Government's experiments on her. Maybe he's a Catholic Priest but it's never referred to. Still, it makes interesting viewing.
More thriller than fear, Firestarter is a worthwhile supernatural thriller with the emphasis on the thriller aspect. Solid.
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