Fire Starter (1984)

'Firestarter' is an adaption of the novel of the same name by Stephen King and is best remembered as an early vehicle for Drew Barrymore, who was 9 when it came out. There are three things in this film about a little girl with the power to start fires with her mind that I thought were really good 1) there is a shot of a score or so of government agents descending through the woods for her in fireproof suits which is effective and memorable, 2) the siege at Art Carney and Louise Fletcher's farm house, and 3) the relationship and scenes between Barrymore and George C. Scott, who is a villain of the piece but spends a good chunk of the film pretending to be her friend. Other then those things this movie is really mediocre to bad. The basic story line seems rather route even then and I think David Keith very miscast as Drew's father, someone else in that role may have made a world of difference for this thing. Loaded with talent including Martin Sheen and Moses Gunn this movie about remarkable powers never feels that remarkable. **