Simultaneously hitting theaters and the streaming service Peacock feels about right, since this is the sort of movie that would have gone directly to cable TV a few decades ago. In fact, there was a miniseries sequel, “Firestarter: Rekindled,” produced for what was then known as Sci Fi Channel 20 years ago, and this actually should have followed in its charred footsteps.
Andy and Charlie go on the run, with the leader of the secret facility (Gloria Reuben) dispatching a shadowy agent (Michael Greyeyes) to hunt them down. But honestly, not much happens for a fairly long stretch of the film’s modest 90-some-odd minutes, until the bad guys finally locate them again, leading to the inevitable showdown.
Directed by Keith Thomas, the movie’s most notable element might be the music, which is composed by horror maven John Carpenter and his “Halloween” collaborators, bearing an eerie resemblance to those macabre chords.
Otherwise, the production values possess the micro-budgeted feel of a student film, while the story arc makes some puzzling choices particularly down the stretch.
Horror never goes out of style, and thanks in part to the aforementioned “It,” everything old with King’s imprimatur is either new again or likely soon will be. Still, “Firestarter” lacks the spark to work in theaters and should even harbor minimal streaming appeal except perhaps for King completists, or horror fans who simply have time to burn.
“Firestarter” premieres May 13 in US theaters and on Peacock. It’s rated R.
