Firestarter (2022)

Directed by Keith Thomas. Starring Zac Efron, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Gloria Reuben, Sydney Lemmon, Michael Greyeyes, John Beasley, Kurtwood Smith, Tina Jung. [R]

Second attempt to adapt Stephen King’s novel about fugitive government “lab rats” with dangerous psychic powers is possibly even worse than the first, and certainly more insipid. Telekinetic mom Lemmon and “pusher” dad Efron are worried about the (literally) explosive potential in their emotionally-unstable pyrokinetic daughter (Armstrong) when a mysterious assassin shows up to bring them back into custody of the secret agency that experimented on them, dead or alive. A bore from start to finish, sparsely populated by careless visuals and lukewarm thrills, and exiting on an altered ending that practically stands defiant in its mission to satisfy no one. Not quite abysmal (aside from an impossible-to-sell line reading during the climax, Armstrong shows potential as a young actress), but entirely devoid of inspiration or a reason for existing. John Carpenter composed the score with son Cody and Daniel Davies. Produced by Jason Blum and Akiva Goldsman.

27/100