Firestarter

Name: Firestarter
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction
Released: 1984-05-11
Duration: 1 h 54 min
Rating: 6.2
Cast: Drew Barrymore, David Keith, Freddie Jones, Heather Locklear, Martin Sheen

She has the power to set objects on fire with just one glance!

Firestarter (1984)

Timing: 1:54 (114 min)

6.2/10
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6.3/10
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6.1/10
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Everything about the movie

Video 9

Photo 29

Actors and characters

Video for the film Firestarter — Mark L. Lester and Dick Warlock On The Stunts Of The Film

2:33

Photo 29

Release date

1984-05-11

Country

United States

Production

Universal Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Dino De Laurentiis Company

Genre

Horror, Thriller, Science Fiction

Budget

$15 000 000

Box office

$17 080 167

Website

Director

Mark L. Lester

Actors

Drew Barrymore, David Keith, Freddie Jones, Heather Locklear, Martin Sheen, George C. Scott, Art Carney, Louise Fletcher, Moses Gunn, Antonio Fargas
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Dino De Laurentiis, Frank Capra, Jr.

Camera operator

Giuseppe Ruzzolini

Composer

Christopher Franke

Artist

Giorgio Postiglione

Audition

Johanna Ray

Editing

Ronald Sanders, David Rawlins
Whole Team (36)

Short description

Charlene "Charlie" McGee has the amazing ability to start fires with just a glance. Can her psychic power and the love of her father save her from the threatening government agency which wants to destroy her?

What's left behind the scenes

The film is based on Stephen King's novel "Firestarter" (1980).
David Keith recalled that in the barn scene where his character dies and Drew Barrymore's character cries, she couldn't manage to cry. Barrymore asked him to spank her right before the camera started rolling so that she would cry. Keith did so.
The idea for Art Carney's character to wear a hearing aid was suggested by the actor himself, who was actually deaf. Director Mark L. Lester liked the idea very much.
Initially, John Carpenter was chosen as the director, but due to the box office failure of his film "The Thing", he was replaced by Mark L. Lester.
Jennifer Connelly was considered for the role of Charlie McGee.
Some scenes with Drew Barrymore were filmed in a studio (for example, the barn fire). A stunt double was used in some of the scenes.
John Carpenter was initially chosen as the director, but was replaced by Mark L. Lester due to the box office failure of his film "The Thing".
Some scenes with Drew Barrymore were filmed on a soundstage (for example, the barn fire). A stunt double was used in some scenes.
In the last half hour of the film, George C. Scott is shown on screen with a patch over his left eye. The patch was necessary due to an infection caused by wearing a contact lens.
David Keat told that in the scene in the barn, when his character dies and Drew Barrymore’s heroine cries, she couldn’t cry no matter what. Barrymore asked him to slap her right before the camera started rolling so she would cry. Keat slapped her.
In the final half hour of the film, George C. Scott is seen on screen with a patch over his left eye. The patch was necessary due to an infection caused by wearing a contact lens.
Bert Lancaster had to leave the film's cast after heart surgery, and was replaced by Martin Sheen.
The idea that Art Carney's character would wear a hearing aid was suggested by the actor himself, who was actually deaf. Director Mark L. Lester really liked the idea.
Burt Lancaster had to leave the film's cast following heart surgery and was replaced by Martin Sheen.
John Carpenter was initially chosen as director, but due to the box office failure of his film 'The Thing', he was replaced by Mark L. Lester.
At that time, computer technology was not yet sufficiently developed, so there was no computer graphics, and all special effects were created directly on the set. Real fire, remotely controlled prosthetics, wires, gas pipes and stuntmen were used.