Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Firestarter (2022)

6

doctorseitanJun 4, 2022

Just okay at best. We live in the era of everything is the best movie ever or the worst movie ever. This was neither, but I wouldn't recommend it.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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3

Rebecca31May 17, 2022

The Stephen King remake parade continues with another addition to the horror genre, Firestarter. With the financial success of IT Chapter I and II it’s not surprising we’re seeing more King adaptations and even though there’s plenty of newThe Stephen King remake parade continues with another addition to the horror genre, Firestarter. With the financial success of IT Chapter I and II it’s not surprising we’re seeing more King adaptations and even though there’s plenty of new material to bring to the big screen for some reason we’re stuck with yet another dull remake. No, Firestarter isn’t quite as bad as Pet Sematary but then again that’s not saying much.

Carlie (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) is a young girl trying to understand how she has the power to set things on fire with her mind. After years of staying under the radar, Charlie’s parents Andy (Zac Efron) and Vicky (Sydney Lemmon) fear her power is becoming too strong for her to control and the risk of being discovered imminent.

Films like Firestarter are the reason many people believe originality in Hollywood is dead. There is literally no point to this movie at all, it’s bland, boring and honestly not worth your time. Considering we already have a decent version of Firestarter it seems like rather than remaking this perhaps something new would have been more successful. The whole secret lab of evil scientists kidnapping children with telekinetic powers could have been done for the big screen by adapting the 2019 novel, The Institute by King, which has a very similar theme but with less fire. It’s a book that hasn’t yet been adapted for either film or TV and it would have been far better to have a new idea rather than yet another cash grab remake. IT saw the potential to reinvent itself and it’s a remake worthy of your time, Chapter I definitely is anyway. Pet Sematary was a catastrophic failure and now Firestarter is the very definition of “meh”.

I really don’t see the point in this remake at all, Firestarter just shows up and presents a mediocre version of a story you’ve already seen before. Blumhouse productions have done far better movies than this, and putting “from the producer of The Invisible Man” on the poster isn’t fooling anyone. That’s a far better movie which you’d be better off watching and skipping Firestarter altogether. Also for all the Efron fans, don’t be tempted, his performance is nothing special and he’s a better actor than this. Not recommended.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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2

Nobilis1984May 13, 2022

Even worse than the original from the 80s.
Firestarter from the 80s was already a weak film, only the actors could save it.
There's nothing that helps to make this embarrassing film positive. Poor actors, with poor staging and mediocreEven worse than the original from the 80s.
Firestarter from the 80s was already a weak film, only the actors could save it.
There's nothing that helps to make this embarrassing film positive. Poor actors, with poor staging and mediocre effects.
Did you happen to want to save money?… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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1

kstud1May 13, 2022

Saw this travesty this morning, why in the year 2022 can’t they make a remake better or at least equal to the first one is beyond me, they have light years of better technology and much better actors so why do we keep getting this garbage,Saw this travesty this morning, why in the year 2022 can’t they make a remake better or at least equal to the first one is beyond me, they have light years of better technology and much better actors so why do we keep getting this garbage, Drew Barrymore played the part better and showed better emotion.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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0

brentwshelton1May 13, 2022

Simply horrific slop. Thank God I used a friend's password to watch this dumpster fire (pun intended) on Peacock. The only thing lost? 94 minutes of my life and the brain cells that self destructed in protest of being forced to process this garbage

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

MattBrady99May 14, 2022

"Liar... Liar...Pants... On... Fire."

I cannot believe that's in the movie. And no, don't take this as a "so bad it's good" type of movie, because it's just bad and boring.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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0

Justinzimmer868May 13, 2022

Worst Remake Ever! There Were 94 Minutes Of Fire Starting Throughout The Whole Entire Movie!

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

JLuis_001May 13, 2022

Regardless of the fact that I believe that Firestarter is one of Stephen King's weakest books and consequently the 1984 adaptation was also a resounding disappointment, I was still really open to this new adaptation. Nearly 40 years laterRegardless of the fact that I believe that Firestarter is one of Stephen King's weakest books and consequently the 1984 adaptation was also a resounding disappointment, I was still really open to this new adaptation. Nearly 40 years later (totally valid time for a new version) comes this film that feels weary, aimless, meaningless and very poorly acted.
Another dreary dissapointment. But when it comes to adapting King that's a common scenario. I can only rescue the soundtrack made by John Carpenter, his son and godson.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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0

RogerBeeMay 14, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Just so dreadful that I have to warn others.

Started badly with a close up view of a baby being breastfed, like it was done for the male gaze. Then, as expected, a kind of origin story intro of the baby making the mobile in her cot catch fire. Cut to the dad (Zac Efron) in bed and a great opportunity to show him tensed up and shirtless, then he put his shirt on, bizarrely tensing his 6 pack while doing so, which looked so unnatural.

Then the story unfolded as badly as possible, with every character encountered being stupid, saying annoying things, being totally dislikable and taking away any empathy you might otherwise have with them.

The school teacher was the worst. She let the girl be attacked by a dodgeball slammed into her head from behind, and instead of seeing this and disciplining the aggressor, she abandoned her class to follow the girl to the toilets where she noticed the cubicles scorching hot and the cubicle door being blown off by some sort of explosion.

Rather than calling an ambulance or seeing if her pupil is okay, or even trying to comfort her after she survived an explosion, she just expressed incredulity. Then, just as any teacher would do, with her gym class still unattended, she reported it as a bad behaviour incident, somehow believing the unarmed girl caused the explosion in an act of malice and the parents were warned that they police would be involved. By now the film was totally detached from reality and people were acting dumber and dumber and dumber, but then we were introduced to more and more dislikable and idiotic characters.

When the girl set fire to her mum's sleeves, the dad tried to comfort the mum as she was suffering severe 3rd degree burns, but didn't think to try to put water onto her or to take her to the kitchen sink to stop the burning with running water. Instead she just got barbecued arms. You'd have thought they would have had a few first aid kits set up specifically for burns.

The lowest point in this film was when the girl's mother was attacked by a hitman, and both she and her dad abandoned her body, seemingly 100% sure she was dead and couldn't be saved, without even investigating to check for a pulse. Yet, there was no grieving at all. No funeral, no prayer, no crying, nothing. I wasn't even sure she was dead until it was mentioned later.

Instead the girl tried to stroke a cat, got scratched and partly cooked it. it was left smoking and whimpering with its fur burning. The dad didn't try to stop the cat burning, and we heard it burn for a minute or so, but suggested to the girl to put it out of its misery. So it was cooked again, with torturous screams heard as it died, but this death actually warranted a burial and a prayer to be said. Along with grieving. More than the mum got.

So, it continued. At one point, the dialogue was so bad that I literally covered my ears to try to shield myself from its stupidity.

I left about an hour in, but wish I left after the first minute.

The worst film I have ever seen.

Actually, I have to add, there were but two lines which made me smile. Both delivered by this old mixed race Southern Carolina-sounding farmer character. When he asked the dad what he did for a job and found out he was a life coach, he said "The world is going to hell in a hand basket!" Which was actually a hilarious way of criticising modern society. And, a short while after, when the dad insisted that he wasn't a killer on the run, as the TV news said he was, he replied "You mean I can't trust my TV?!". If this was intentionally ironic, then it's another hilarious observation on how gullible we are and how we worship TV.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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1

docbmacMay 23, 2022

Horrible! Major let-down as when compared to the original, and although it had major shoes to fill they knew the risk! I'm incredibly disappointed with not just the film, but the absolutely horrible acting on Zac Efron's part!

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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2

1226Jun 10, 2022

This is pure garbage thrown thrown in to try to grab a few dollars dollars. This is nothing like the 1st one which was excellent it's a cheap syfy original

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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0

sternkernJun 11, 2022

There was one good reason to reshoot this movie, to make it better. The book was good, the 80's movie was mediocre at best, but this thing they released just now, it showes there is always the possibility to make something even worse. It isThere was one good reason to reshoot this movie, to make it better. The book was good, the 80's movie was mediocre at best, but this thing they released just now, it showes there is always the possibility to make something even worse. It is terrible, not advising anyone to spend any money or time to watch it.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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3

ChukerMay 14, 2022

Horrible. Hurts your eyes and brain. I think i ended bleeding from my eyes like Zac Effron

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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1

turdlemckayMay 13, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I had high hopes, but then the movie started. In their defense the track and opening cut scene were good. Then the movie went down hill. I think the cast did what they could with what they had its just slow and boring uninteresting returned … Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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0

imthenoobMay 15, 2022

This movie is nothing short of an absolute dumpster fire, Proving to us once again that just because it is by Stephen King doesn't mean it should be adapted into a film. The writer of this film should be ashamed of how much he butchered theThis movie is nothing short of an absolute dumpster fire, Proving to us once again that just because it is by Stephen King doesn't mean it should be adapted into a film. The writer of this film should be ashamed of how much he butchered the source material and how needlessly confusing he made this film. From the awful director to the bad acting, This movie feels like a straight to TV film and not one that deserves a box office release. I feel sorry for those that wasted money to see it.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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1

BadCaseLawMay 14, 2022

My score of 1 is not hyperbolic. This movie is an utter insult to a brilliant novel (that it resembles in pretty much name only). I don’t understand how Mr. King allows his work to be turned into such utter trash. Thank goodness I did not payMy score of 1 is not hyperbolic. This movie is an utter insult to a brilliant novel (that it resembles in pretty much name only). I don’t understand how Mr. King allows his work to be turned into such utter trash. Thank goodness I did not pay to watch this. One of the worst movies I’ve ever seen – I ended up just fast forwarding through much of it. This movie is not worth your time even if it is free, and if you are a fan of the book you will only leave insulted.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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1

bfoore90May 24, 2022

Script was terrible and to make things worse, it was completely boring and an absolute slog to get through.

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1

RustyDiamondsMay 20, 2022

Firestarter...more like Firequencher.
This was abysmally boring and unimpressive. The pacing felt off, acting was subpar, effects did nothing to help. There was nothing grabbing about the movie either...it felt extremely 'meh'.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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0

BigEggsKitchenMay 21, 2022

Wow this movie was terrible. It makes absolutely no sense. Both characters don’t even care the mom dies it cuts to the next scene with the dumb ass girl playing with a stick before setting a cat on fire. One of the worst movies of the year

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3

MattyIce34May 14, 2022

It’s bad, but what’s worse is it’s boring. Young girl is pretty good, most everyone else is wooden or afraid to chew scenery.

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1

Benperez22Jun 12, 2022

The definition of boredom and wasted potential. Exhausting to watch, with a wasted lead who gave her all to make it work... Taking a premise that should be interesting and possibly thought-provoking into a general, bland, dumpster fire. 1.5 out of 10

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6

PanchogulMay 13, 2022

Es de casi la misma calidad que la película de 1984, pero menos interesante en los aspectos buenos de la anterior, al menos tiene una banda sonora buena y es relativamente entretenida, aún así es una película que nadie pidió y seguro pasaráEs de casi la misma calidad que la película de 1984, pero menos interesante en los aspectos buenos de la anterior, al menos tiene una banda sonora buena y es relativamente entretenida, aún así es una película que nadie pidió y seguro pasará sin pena ni gloria.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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7

DeviltherobotMay 19, 2022

I always wonder if people have ever seen bad movies. Like ACTUALLY bad movies. This isn't a 0 or any negative score. A 2.3 aggregate? Are we being serious? The movie is well acted (especially Effron), well shot, had some solid effects/gore,I always wonder if people have ever seen bad movies. Like ACTUALLY bad movies. This isn't a 0 or any negative score. A 2.3 aggregate? Are we being serious? The movie is well acted (especially Effron), well shot, had some solid effects/gore, great music, what else do people want? At worst the pacing needs to be improved. It is a 7/10.… Expand

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5

AmethystVenomMay 14, 2022

It was definitely a rough adaptation. The script needed a lot if work. The movie felt like it was missing pieces. Some of it story points were just dreadful. Most of the acting was terrible. On bright notes Ryan Kiera Armstrong was solid.It was definitely a rough adaptation. The script needed a lot if work. The movie felt like it was missing pieces. Some of it story points were just dreadful. Most of the acting was terrible. On bright notes Ryan Kiera Armstrong was solid. When her and Zack Effron were on screen together it was great. John Carpenter tunes always a plus. Otherwise only worth watching if you nothing else on.… Expand