X
- 2022
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 34 m
- 2022
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 34 m
Summary For more than a decade, parents Andy (Zac Efron) and Vicky (Sydney Lemmon) have been on the run, desperate to hide their daughter Charlie (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her unprecedented gift for creating fire into a weapon of mass destruction. Andy has taught Charlie how to defuse her power, ...
Directed By: Keith Thomas
Written By: Stephen King, Scott Teems
- 2022
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 34 m
- 2022
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 34 m
Firestarter
32
2.8
Where to Watch
Summary For more than a decade, parents Andy (Zac Efron) and Vicky (Sydney Lemmon) have been on the run, desperate to hide their daughter Charlie (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her unprecedented gift for creating fire into a weapon of mass destruction. Andy has taught Charlie how to defuse her power, ...
Directed By: Keith Thomas
Written By: Stephen King, Scott Teems
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 29 Critic Reviews
32
10% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
41% Mixed
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
48% Negative
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 29 Critic Reviews
32
10% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
41% Mixed
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
48% Negative
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
There is plenty of good meat on the bone here for the hungriest horror hounds. If you have some time to burn, the new Firestarter is definitely worth it.
It’s a remake that lacks identity, urgency and enthusiasm—such a shame after Keith Thomas’ outstanding horror debut.
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 53 User Ratings
2.8
2% Positive
1 Rating
1 Rating
42% Mixed
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
57% Negative
30 Ratings
30 Ratings
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 53 User Ratings
2.8
2% Positive
1 Rating
1 Rating
42% Mixed
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
57% Negative
30 Ratings
30 Ratings
I always wonder if people have ever seen bad movies. Like ACTUALLY bad movies. This isn't a 0 or any negative score. A 2.3 aggregate? Are we being serious? The movie is well acted (especially Effron), well shot, had some solid effects/gore, great music, what else do people want? At worst the pacing needs to be improved. It is a 7/10.
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This movie is pretty average. The acting is pretty good, the vfx are stunning at times but there's not a lot going on. The movie feels like the director wants to give off a "stranger Things" kind of vibe but it just feels cheap and out of place. However the music is really good and up to John Carpenter's standards. The story also isn't told really well and it makes liking the characters harder. Even though it has some flaws, this movie is enjoyable and isn't particularly bad, nor good either but it could be worse and I got some enjoyment watching it.
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Director Keith Thomas and writer Scott Teems found a way to turn the fun source material into a lethargic parenting drama that’s completely devoid of warmth.
When it’s a cautionary tale about an unusual family who’ll never know a moment’s peace because of their past choices, Firestarter is worthy of its source material. When in its last half-hour it turns into chapter one of a potential new superhero franchise, it joins the long list of Stephen King movies that are all gimmick, no guts.
The new Firestarter is a lot like the old Firestarter, if the old Firestarter was duller, cheaper, and devoid of almost all meaning.
Perhaps what’s most dispiriting about this Firestarter is how visually impoverished it is.
Just okay at best. We live in the era of everything is the best movie ever or the worst movie ever. This was neither, but I wouldn't recommend it.
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The Stephen King remake parade continues with another addition to the horror genre, Firestarter. With the financial success of IT Chapter I and II it’s not surprising we’re seeing more King adaptations and even though there’s plenty of new material to bring to the big screen for some reason we’re stuck with yet another dull remake. No, Firestarter isn’t quite as bad as Pet Sematary but then again that’s not saying much.
Carlie (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) is a young girl trying to understand how she has the power to set things on fire with her mind. After years of staying under the radar, Charlie’s parents Andy (Zac Efron) and Vicky (Sydney Lemmon) fear her power is becoming too strong for her to control and the risk of being discovered imminent.
Films like Firestarter are the reason many people believe originality in Hollywood is dead. There is literally no point to this movie at all, it’s bland, boring and honestly not worth your time. Considering we already have a decent version of Firestarter it seems like rather than remaking this perhaps something new would have been more successful. The whole secret lab of evil scientists kidnapping children with telekinetic powers could have been done for the big screen by adapting the 2019 novel, The Institute by King, which has a very similar theme but with less fire. It’s a book that hasn’t yet been adapted for either film or TV and it would have been far better to have a new idea rather than yet another cash grab remake. IT saw the potential to reinvent itself and it’s a remake worthy of your time, Chapter I definitely is anyway. Pet Sematary was a catastrophic failure and now Firestarter is the very definition of “meh”.
I really don’t see the point in this remake at all, Firestarter just shows up and presents a mediocre version of a story you’ve already seen before. Blumhouse productions have done far better movies than this, and putting “from the producer of The Invisible Man” on the poster isn’t fooling anyone. That’s a far better movie which you’d be better off watching and skipping Firestarter altogether. Also for all the Efron fans, don’t be tempted, his performance is nothing special and he’s a better actor than this. Not recommended.
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It’s bad, but what’s worse is it’s boring. Young girl is pretty good, most everyone else is wooden or afraid to chew scenery.
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Production Company
Blumhouse Productions,
Angry Adam Productions,
Night Platform,
Universal Pictures,
Weed Road Pictures
Release Date May 13, 2022
Duration 1 h 34 m
Rating R
Awards
Razzie Awards
• 2 Nominations
Golden Scythe Horror Awards
• 2 Nominations
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
• 1 Nomination
