Firestarter is a science fiction horror film directed by Keith Thomas. It is the second adaptation of the novel by Stephen King after the 1984 film starring Drew Barrymore, with that leading role now taken by Ryan Kiera Armstrong. The cast is led by Zac Efron and Blumhouse Productions produces.
The film was released in theaters and on Peacock on May 13, 2022.
Previews: Trailer
Tropes:
- Adaptational Badass:
- In the original story, Rainbird is a skilled assassin for the Shop, but has no special abilities. Here, he has Psychic Powers himself due to being used by the Shop as a test subject.
- In the book, Vicky is a fairly weak telekinetic, getting headaches just from the act of closing a door. In this adaptation, she shows fewer signs of strain when using her powers and throws objects at Rainbird while trying to outrun him, though he dryly notes she's out of practice.
- Charlie herself. In the book they were terrified of her potential. In this film, it turns out she has not only her pyrokinesis but has also inherited both her parents' powers.
- Adaptational Heroism: In the original story, Rainbird is a psychopathic villain who manipulates Charlie to gain her trust before murdering her father in front of her. In this version, he expresses genuine sympathy for Charlie and later saves her from the Shop agents.
- Adaptational Timespan Change: The remake takes place over a much shorter span of time than the original. After Vicky is killed, Andy and Charlie spend only days on the run before the Shop catches up with them, whereas in the book and 1984 film they were in hiding for months.
- Adaptation Name Change:
- Andy's real name is Aaron Cooper, as revealed in a news report Irv watches.
- Irv’s wife was named Norma in the original. Here, her name is changed to Esmerelda.
- Adapted Out:
- Dr. Pynchot does not appear in the film. However, the hospital Hollister visits Dr. Wanless in is named after him.
- Several scenes from the book are cut. In particular, Charlie never ends up in the Shop's custody in this version, and only goes there to rescue her father in the climax.
- Artistic Title: The opening titles consist of recordings of Andy and Vicky being interviewed for the Lot Six trials, interspersed with footage from the experiment itself.
- Ascended Extra: Vicky only appeared in flashbacks in the 1984 adaptation. This version gives her some more screentime and a brief fight scene with Rainbird.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: In the novel, Hollister and Andy are both killed by Rainbird. Here, Charlie incinerates them after Andy "pushes" her.
- Eye Scream:
- In the opening credits, one of the Lot Six participants claws out his own eyes.
- Overuse of the push causes Andy's eyes to bleed.
- False Reassurance: When Charlie loses control and burns her mother's hands, she tearfully tells Andy that she didn't mean to do it... because she was aiming for him.
- Gender Flip: James Hollister was male in the original story. Here, the female Jane Hollister is the head of the Shop.
- Government Conspiracy: The US government is creating superhumans, and is doing its best to recover a sucessful case in Charlie.
- Heel–Face Turn: Rainbird starts out hunting Charlie for the Shop, and kills her mother and a group of police officers to get to her. However, after expressing sympathy for her as a fellow victim of the Shop, he has a change of heart and takes down a group of Shop agents to save Charlie after being freed from his cell.
- I Will Find You: Charlie says this when she decides to rescue Andy from the Shop.
- Kids Are Cruel: The kids at Charlie's school relentlessly bully her, calling her weird and making fun of her for not having access to things like Google. The resulting stress makes it hard to contain her powers.
- Mama Bear: Vicky is determined to keep the Shop's agents away from her daughter.Rainbird: Come peacefully and you'll live.Vicky: I will die before I let them have [Charlie].
- Mood Whiplash: The film opens with a flashback of Andy and Vicky putting baby Charlie to bed. She doesn't want to be left alone, however, and sets her mobile on fire. Andy comes back and, seeing the flaming mobile, takes Charlie out of her crib. Shortly after, her head catches on fire and Andy wakes up, revealing that it was a dream.
- Mundane Utility: Andy uses "the push" to help regular people as a life coach. He pushes a woman to be more positive and to quit smoking.
- Papa Wolf: In a flashback, Andy uses his powers to murder two Shop agents who kidnapped an infant Charlie.
- Playing with Fire: Charlie, as usual. In the climax, she incinerates multiple Shop agents and eventually blows up the entire DSI complex.
- Please Kill Me if It Satisfies You: After saving her from the Shop agents, Rainbird puts down his gun and offers to let Charlie kill him. The original ending has her spare him, after which he carries her away from the burning complex. In the alternate ending, she leaves the building alone, implying she incinerated him or he burned to death in the explosion.
- Pre-Mortem One-Liner: Charlie gives this line when one of the Shop agents claims they're just trying to help her.Charlie: "Liar, liar, pants on fire."
- Puberty Superpower:
- Discussed.Charlie is 11 and while her father balks at discussing womanhood related changes, Charlie is actually concerned about her power.
- The doctor in the hospital warns Hollister that Charlie's already alarming power will only grow stronger once she reaches puberty.
- Race Lift: played with. The 1984 film starred George C.Scott as the Native American Rainbird. Native American Michael Greyeyes portrays Rainbird in this version.
- Screaming Warrior:
- Vicky lets out a scream of rage while fighting Rainbird, causing objects to fly out of the cabinets at him.
- Charlie often becomes one when she uses her powers, notably when she realizes Rainbird killed her mother and in the climax when she starts frying Shop agents left and right.
