Thanks for checking out our Forgotten Fridays feature. This is a feature to review some older films that maybe you have forgotten about or maybe never got around to seeing that we just want to share. They may not be old, maybe not forgotten, but they are not new. Just fun to share.
Today, we review Firestarter
Genre: Thriller
Directed by: Mark L. Lester
Staring: David Keith, Drew Barrymore, Freddie Jones, Heather Locklear, Martin Sheen, George C. Scott, Art Carney
Released: May 11, 1984
THE GENERAL IDEA
Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same title, Andrew and Vicky McGee met while earning money as guinea pigs for an experiment at college. The experiment was shrouded in suspicion and mystery, and seemed to be related to psychic abilities. The two were married and had a daughter Charile, who has the ability to start fires by merely thinking about it. Naturally, the government takes a great interest in Charlie, and operatives from the secret department known as “The Shop” want to quarrantine and study her.
THE GOOD
Seeing how young Drew Barrymore is in this and how she handles herself is just amazing. She’s a true talent. Seeing her this vulnerable and just desperately trying to be a normal girl thrust in the middle of all this woudl be hard for a grown up to handle. Barrymore carries this film entirely.
How they play out “The Shop” and the secret organization behind developing mental powers is revealed just enough that you wonder if they really are trying to make superpowered people somewhere. They tell you very little about them, but we know enough.
THE BAD
I think the tunnel vision that surrounds Drew’s Charlie is intentional, and that making everyone else in the film seem two dimensional. There is very little depth or motivation in any of the other characters other than Charlie. I really think it was intentional, but it distracts sometimes when you can’t fully understand the motives behind a character, but it is a technique that helps you see the struggles of an 8 year old in very simple terms. She doesn’t see why they are doing this either, and we get to see some of that through the film.
OVERALL
I like this movie for a number of reasons. Seeing young Drew Barrymore just own this movie is a delight, and seeing how well put together a movie can pull you into that hopeless struggle Charlie faces and suddenly cheering on the Carrie like ending. A must in my collection.
Since all of these Forgotten Friday reviews are going to be what I would already give a high rating to, I had a Tv, Rent or Buy scale going on, but it would seem that an overwhelming majority of my picks get a BUY rating.
So with every Forgotten Friday you see from now on, you get to rate your anticipation for yourself!
TV – If you are at least a little curious, catch it if it comes on TV.
Rent – If it is something you have heard of and forgotten, or just remember enjoying this as much as I did once upon a time, go rent it.
Buy – But if you are like me, and you agree with my review you should go buy it. If its featured here, I already have.
