FireStarter (2022) spoiler free review
Never Play With Fire. A new adaptation of Stephen King’s work is here. Based on the novel of the same name this film also serves as a remake of the 80s adaptation of the novel starring Drew Barrymore.
After being experimented on by a secret government entity called The Shop, Andy McGee develops psychic powers and meets the love of his life. Together they have a daughter with a power of her own and The Shop will stop at nothing to get them back.
Official plot
The film starts Zac Efron (High School Musical, The Greatest Showman) and Ryan Kiera Armstrong (IT: Chapter 2, American Horror Story)as Andy and Charlie McGee. Directed by Keith Thomas (The Vigil) with John Carpenter in charge of the soundtrack. Carpenter is the director of another Stephen King adaptation, Christine (1983).
My opinion
This is indeed one of the most disappointing films of the year. While the essence of the story is there if you are a fan it won’t take much to notice the changes that has been made. The biggest change is the ending having a different one compared to the original film.
The storytelling is also different. While on the original material we go back and forth on the life’s of the protagonists here we only go forward. The film starts on a different point of the story, skipping a whole chunk of the characters journey. This is the type of film that needed more running time as it only has 1 hour and thirty four minutes.
Efron and Armstrong aren’t able to give a believable father-daughter relationship. The scrip fails to give enough about them and who they are. Also fails at giving them a character development. Just like the whole film, they feel flat. The only good thing on the film is the soundtrack, by obvious reasons.
Even the special effects leaves you expecting more. There’s no climax or moment where Charlie’s power go full unleashed and are completely shown. This is probably the most disappointment part since special effects had evolved in the last 40 years. Compared to the original film this one feels like the summary version of it.