Firestarter (2022)

Firestarter (2022)
94 Min
Cert: 15

Cast Zac Efron, Ryan Keira Armstrong, Sydney Lemmon

Director Keith Thomas

The latest in a long line of remakes of Stephen King adaptations finds Blumhouse Productions resurrecting a lesser known entry in his filmography. 

Psychic Andy and wife Vicky, whose powers are unspecified, live a nomadic life with Pyrokinetic daughter Charlie, constantly moving to avoid detection by the shady government agency that gave them the powers via human experimentation. 

When the family are inevitably found they take to the road again while Charlie struggles to come to terms with her ever-increasing powers and the sense of power they imbue her with. For what is essentially a schlocky horror film this was actually surprisingly touching in places, being more of a story about family and alienation than a simple chase film. There are long periods that focus purely on the relationship between Andy and Charlie and it isn't until the last quarter that the action really ignites, after that though the film ends a little too abruptly to be satisfying. 

Special mention has to go to Ryan Keira Armstrong as Charlie who absolutely stole the show in American Horror Story - Red Tide and again shows potential to be a future megastar. A scene where she transforms from innocent child playing at school into a dangerous threat wipes the floor with anything her older castmates deliver.

★★★☆☆