I Watch Films: Firestarter

 

Firestarter (2022)

Charlie’s parents were experimented on with Lot-6, a compound that unlocks powers. Her dad has telepathy and can push people to change their mind, though he bleeds from the eyes. Her mum has telekinesis that she never uses. They live off the grid to prevent being captured by the Department of Scientific Intelligence. Charlie herself, now 10 years old, is pyrokinetic, she can start fires. After being bullied at school there’s an incident and the DSI send a Lot-6 powered bounty hunter, Rainbird after them.

Based on an 80s Stephen King novel, this feels very X-Men at this date, mixed with other dark takes on superheroes. There’s a few clever bits around the telepathy and the push, and Charlie’s power being (correctly) treated as monstrous, especially in the hands (mind?) of a ten year old.

Watch This: Dark superhero adventure
Don’t Watch This: People are coerced telepathically and otherwise, plus murder and everything pushed onto a kid