Countless Stephen King adaptations have been released over the decades. However, there are those that tend to have a more popular following than others. Now one of these beloved Stephen King adaptations is available to stream on Netflix.
This particular adaptation was released in 1984. It was a popular year for films, with the likes of The Terminator, Gremlins, and Ghostbusters all being released alongside horror hits like Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter and A Nightmare on Elm Street. As such, this King adaptation just barely slid through the cracks.
Fortunately, however, it was successful enough to earn a cult following over the years. As such, many Stephen King fans will no doubt be happy to revisit the film – or even see it for the first time – via Netflix. Especially since there are many fans that prefer it to a more recent adaptation of the same novel.
Interestingly, the film is actually one of two Stephen King adaptations that feature Drew Barrymore. In this particular entry, titled Firestarter, she portrays young Charlie McGee – a little girl with the power of pyrokinesis. This power allows her to start fires with her mind, and as a result, she’s wanted by a government agency known only as The Shop.
The Shop tracks Charlie and her father, David Keith’s Andy McGee who has psychic powers of his own, after murdering Charlie’s mother. It’s a tense thriller that only bubbles in tension as George C. Scott’s John Rainbird does his best to manipulate Charlie and use her powers for his own personal gain.
Though it’s not completely faithful to the book, it does its best to represent the source material in a nifty 1980’s fashion. The soundtrack is composed by Tangerine Dream, and with such great atmosphere, it truly is a time capsule of fiery proportions. At a time when properties like Stranger Things are so popular for using works like Firestarter as inspiration, it’s definitely a good time to revisit this film.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding the latest trending titles on Netflix and other such streaming services as we have them. Firestarter is currently available to stream on Netflix and well worth the watch.