Skip to content
FMM.
Firestarter poster

Movie

Firestarter

Never play with fire.

2022 1hr : 34m Horror · Science Fiction ★ 5.4

For more than a decade, parents Andy and Vicky have been on the run, desperate to hide their daughter Charlie 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, which is triggered by anger or pain. But as Charlie turns 11, the fire becomes harder and harder to control. After an incident reveals the family's location, a mysterious operative is deployed to hunt down the family and seize Charlie once and for all. Charlie has other plans.

More details

People

Cast

Viewing guide

Is Firestarter right for you?

Why it may be worth watching

  • Firestarter combines Horror and Science Fiction elements in one feature.
  • The principal cast includes Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Zac Efron, Sydney Lemmon.
  • Viewers currently rate it 5.4/10 from 846 votes.

Who may enjoy it

Best suited to viewers looking for Horror, Science Fiction. Its shorter runtime also makes it easier to fit into one sitting.

Content notes

A regional age classification is not currently listed. Metadata signals include frightening or intense material. Ratings vary by country; use this as a quick screening note rather than a complete parental guide.

Themes and topics
firebased on novel or booktelepathycoming of agesecret government organizationpsychic powerpsychicfemale magician

Viewing guidance uses the title details shown on this page; classifications may differ by region.

Community

Reviews

5
CinemaSerfExternal review · ★ 5.0/10

He might look good in a white T-shirt but the thing is, as Zac Efron gets older he looks more and more like an automaton. When he was younger, he had a charm about him - now he just looks like his life consists of nothing but the gym, the manscapists and a bath in yesterday's excess kale smoothie mix! Add to that really lacklustre performance some screaming from a competent youngster in Ryan Kiera Armstrong ("Charlie") and we are left with a very mediocre adaptation of this pretty lightweight Stephen King story that is big on pyrotechnic effects, certai…

Read full review

He might look good in a white T-shirt but the thing is, as Zac Efron gets older he looks more and more like an automaton. When he was younger, he had a charm about him - now he just looks like his life consists of nothing but the gym, the manscapists and a bath in yesterday's excess kale smoothie mix! Add to that really lacklustre performance some screaming from a competent youngster in Ryan Kiera Armstrong ("Charlie") and we are left with a very mediocre adaptation of this pretty lightweight Stephen King story that is big on pyrotechnic effects, certainly, but on very little else. There is a story: the youngster can cause things to combust at will when she gets stressed or annoyed; her father can bend people to his will making his eyes bleed in the process - quite an effective cure for smokers who want to give up; and her mother - Sidney Lemmon, well she too has a quirk - but I cannot remember what it was (but it definitely wasn't firefighting). Anyway, those who scientifically enhanced this family are hot on their trail - and it's all a question of who will prevail. Well it would be if you were still remotely bothered but after half an hour I just wasn't. For a movie about conflagration - it's sadly all a bit of a damp squib.

JPV852External review · ★ 5.0/10

Eh, just another pointless remake/re-adaptation, although I don't mind it since the 1984 version wasn't great either. Nothing terrible but not anything special either. Performances were bland and not even the pyrotechnics weren't all that impressive. I guess it's fine to watch for free on Peakcock Premium but even so, you're really not missing anything. **2.25/5**

The Movie MobExternal review · ★ 5.0/10

**Ironically, this fire never got going—total dud.**

What? How? I didn't expect to be blown away, but I also didn't expect to be bored. I love Blumhouse flicks, and their fresh take on The Invisible Man had my expectations high for their version of Firestarter. Unfortunately, this was as straight to streaming as a movie could feel. Think Push (2009) but much more mediocre.

External reviewerExternal review

Add it to the “passible movies that are adaptations of Stephen King novels” pile, which is getting concerning-ly large.
Regardless, I got to see the NOPE trailer on the big screen!

External reviewerExternal review · ★ 8.0/10

**Slightly generic but heartwarming**

This is your typical superhero origin story that is about learning responsibility. Unlike most people, I actually thought this was kind of sweet and slightly different from other films in the same genre. They went for a more realistic approach by focusing on her "becoming a young woman" and showing the difficulties through a visual cue.

Log in to write a review.

Videos

5

You may also like

From FMM Reviews

More stories about movies and television

All reviews

Browse by genre

View all
View all

Official video

Firestarter trailer