Firestarter, based upon the novel of the same name by Stephen King, features Drew Barrymore in the lead role as the little girl who can start fires with her mind.  Rounding out the all-star cast is Martin Sheen, George C. Scott, David Keith, Art Carney, Ellen Burstyn and Heather Locklear.  Keith and Barrymore are on the run from the Shop, a top-secret government program that tests people with super-normal abilities and then in turn wish to apply those talents in real-world situations.  Already having murdered the beautiful Heather Locklear, Barrymore’s mother in the picture, the Shop captures the two and proceeds to have them do whatever they want.  But one thing they never reckoned on is a little girl’s fury, much to their demise.

It is odd to go back and watch this movie and see Drew Barrymore as a child when she has not been so for such a long time.  It is easy to forget that she has been making movies for her entire life and not just the last twenty years.  She does a great job as Charlie, the little girl who has pyrokinesis, though why her hair moves when she is using her powers is something that is never explained.  Another strange item is that she seems to be able to read minds near the beginning of the film, or at least sense people’s intentions, but once captured that talent seems to go away.  It sure would have come in handy when John was trying to canoodle his way into her good graces.

John, played by the wonderful George C. Scott, was a little disturbing at first, coming off almost like a pedophile with his talk of wanting and having her when Martin Sheen was done with her.  It really gave the film a creepy tone as he did not explain that he merely wanted to kill her until the film was nearly over.  Even then, when he is screaming out that he loves her as she is killing him, it hammers that vibe home just a little more.  He has only known her for a few days, perhaps a bit longer, and he loves her?  How did he form such a strong enough bond that he could say that?  George C. Scott is great in everything he does, but this was definitely one of his most bizarre roles yet.

Written by Stanley Mann and directed by Mark L. Lester, they do a pretty good job of keeping the viewer hooked for the duration of the film.  It would have been nice to see just a bit more of the backstory on our characters and a little bit more of Heather Locklear.  The few scenes of home-life were interesting, especially seeing the parents teaching Charlie to use her powers, going in depth just a little more into their development would have been appreciative.  Not having read the book, it is unknown just how far it diverges off of the source material, but taking the film as a whole, it was a satisfying, straightforward film.

4 out of 5