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Firestarter is a 1984 American science fiction horror film directed by Mark Lester and is based on the 1980 novel of the same name by Stephen King. The film follows a young girl named Charlene "Charlie" McGee, who was born with pyrokinetic powers and her father, Andrew "Andy" McGee, who was an experimental subject during college, that gave him and Charlie their powers.

The movie opens with the McGee family, consisting of Andy (David Keith), his wife Vicky (Heather Locklear), and Charlie (Drew Barrymore), on the run from a secret government organization known as The Shop. The Shop becomes aware of Charlie's unique abilities and seeks to capture her for their own nefarious purposes.

Andy has the ability to control people's minds, making him a valuable asset to The Shop. However, he wants nothing more than to protect his daughter and keep her from being used as a weapon. The family moves from place to place, trying to evade the agents of The Shop who are always hot on their trail.

Eventually, The Shop captures the family and puts them through a series of tests to hone their powers. They soon discover that Charlie's powers are much more powerful than they thought, and they plan to use her to create an army of super-soldiers. Andy teams up with a sympathetic Shop scientist named John Rainbird (George C. Scott) to try and rescue Charlie and escape from the clutches of The Shop.

The film is a blend of science fiction and horror, with intense chase scenes and plenty of action. Drew Barrymore delivers a solid performance as Charlie, displaying a range of emotions from fear to anger to vulnerability. David Keith is also impressive as Andy, torn between his desire to protect his daughter and his loyalty to Rainbird's plan.

One of the standout aspects of Firestarter is the special effects used to depict Charlie's powers. The film was made in the early 1980s, so the effects are not as advanced as they would be today. However, they were still impressive for the time and hold up surprisingly well even today. Seeing Charlie burst into flames and unleash her powers is a thrilling sight, and it's easy to see why The Shop wants to harness her abilities.

Another great aspect of Firestarter is George C. Scott's performance as John Rainbird. Scott delivers a nuanced and complex performance as the scientist who befriends Andy and tries to help him rescue Charlie. While Rainbird works for The Shop, he is not entirely evil and has his own motivations for helping Andy. Scott plays him as a multifaceted character rather than a one-dimensional villain, adding depth and nuance to the film.

Firestarter is not without its flaws, of course. The story can be predictable at times, and some of the characters feel underdeveloped. Additionally, the film's pacing can be uneven, with slow stretches that make the action scenes feel less impactful.

Overall, though, Firestarter is an enjoyable and thrilling sci-fi horror film that showcases some impressive special effects and solid performances from its cast. While it may not be Stephen King's best adaptation, it's still a worthwhile addition to any horror or sci-fi fan's movie collection.

Firestarter is a 2013 sports & fitness movie with a runtime of 33 minutes.