FIRESTARTER (2022) MOVIE REVIEW | SPOILER FREE

[@Johnny-ci8mw]

It’s not necessarily a remake of Misery (more of a prequel), but Castle Rock season 2 was based around Annie before the events that took place in the book/movie. Lizzy Caplan played Annie, and I think she did pretty well - Kathy Bates gave her high praise as well.

[@astonishinglyy]

Misery would be so cool to see, especially with how celeb/stan culture has evolved with the internet!

[@erikdaniels0n]

I hadn’t thought about that, but I agree that a remake of Misery that attempts to comment on/satirize celebrity and stan culture would actually work really well if done right

[@ryanbromm207]

That one episode of iCarly

[@taylor11111]

yesss!! the original is perfect but a modernized version could hit so hard. especially in the right hands for the screenplay and adaptation.

[@pablodelsegundo9502]

No. That just shits on the book, trying to update it with modern nonsense. I'm all for modern psycho fan stories, but let's get fresh written material for that.

[@societycrumbles]

Yeah, Annie was the original toxic fan, I love that about the book / the og movie. Remake would be interesting.

[@TheTongueTwisler]

To be honest, I think the reason Misery hasn't been remade at all is because the original is perfect. Well, not perfect, but really good! I don't think a remake would add anything.

[@ashscott6068]

It's an incredibly easy story to adapt. It's pretty much set in a bedroom. I'm actually glad they didn't try to show anything from Misery's Return. It woulda been cheesy to keep flipping into some 1800's romance novel. I skip them in the book, too. Especially in the versions that have all the missing letters and are hand-written towards the end. And Paul's internal monologue is something we don't need in a movie. Show, don't tell. I'm glad there was no voiceover of all the stream-of-consciousness interludes. I think pretty much anyone would have adapted it the same way. I could care less about minor details like swapping an axe for a sledgehammer.

[@nickleapley9467]

Thank you for reviewing this movie! Even though you weren’t excited to review it, I was excited to hear your opinion about it. BTW to answer one of your questions, I think the appeal for this movie is for Zac Efron fans.

[@pablodelsegundo9502]

Only if he gets nekkid or at least in his underwear. Otherwise, nah.

[@CDap404]

The scene with the cat was so horrifically unnecessary that it's almost funny they had the gall to go that far with it.

[@JaymeSplendid]

Well, it was in the book to be fair.

[@pgallbladder]

What happened to the cat?

[@vegangurly]

@@Pat-Mustard learnt?

[@Corn_Pone_Flicks]

Cat torture, huh? Well, skipping this one.

[@jesso.o8156]

First, I don't get why she is trying to touch the cat...

[@darkangel15221]

I was really looking forward to the new film. The 80's version was one of King's weaker adaptations, its only redeemable qualities were a stellar cast and cool pyrotechnic special effects. The young actress who plays Charlie was in the last season of AHS and was REALLY good in it. So, I thought that the reboot be a major upgrade to the original. Damn, I was wrong. I don't want Hollywood to touch Misery. It's perfect.

[@meaganbass1101]

I think Ann Dowd would be amazing playing Annie in a Misery remake. She is a superb actress that can play any role.

[@ЯнисИлимятов]

Yes! She would be excellent playing Annie

[@joannemcneill156]

I'd love to see Toni Collett take on the Annie Wilkins character. Also tell me why I'm so tired of seeing mediocre 'horror' films that aren't really horror at all and am itching to see something good, but I also want to see this movie just to see how bad it is?

[@raveng8217]

I'm not sure if I want to see a Misery remake, but if they were to make one, Toni Collette would absolutely kill that role

[@Gee-Raf]

Love your hair! The color and style are beautiful.

[@christyfielding7498]

I wasn't expecting much but I was still disappointed. It had such potential to be a truly horrific movie.

[@kathleenshocknesse5996]

The book was fantastic and I liked the original movie. I have no interest in seeing the remake. I also think Misery should never be remade. It was perfection!!

[@pablodelsegundo9502]

THANK YOU!! Agreed on all counts, though I didn't think the book was fantastic...enjoyable, yes, but definitely one of SK's middle-grade works.

[@Teatime7771]

Me too. I like the original movie very much even though I do see flaws like having a white actor play Rainbird. The character is supposed to be Native American but then again he dies in a brutal way in the original movie so I have to ask do you want to see that happen to a Native American?

[@cefy3117]

Honestly I like when you spoiled the movies. Do it more often please.

[@bby.kaylamarie]

I love how your personality and sassiness has come out more since forgetting about other peoples opinions💯👏🏽

[@clyff4008]

octavia spencer would EAT as annie in misery. we saw her be able to embody the crazy like in Ma, so she would def slay the role

[@PossessedbyHorror]

ahh this is a great answer!!

[@AVspectre]

I watched Ma on a whim on a streaming service and yeah - she really sold the intense crazy and flipping between friendly and menacing.

[@roguemystique7]

I love the way you review movies personally. When I watch movie reviews I'm watching for the spoilers usually. Because I've either 1 already seen the movie, or 2 don't plan on it and just want to hear your thoughts. I also agree with you on Zac Efron, and animal deaths. I'd rather see/read about people dying than animals. It's just not my cup of tea.

[@esoteric76]

Just to go along with your Misery sidebar, I DID see the Broadway production with Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf (Tony nominated!) and it was pretty incredible. The set was insane, it rotated around as Bruce wheeled himself through the rooms, and some of the pictures Annie had of him in her house were from his Moonlighting days!

[@societycrumbles]

I have been looking for a bootleg of it for ages and it's nowhere to be found. I want to see it so bad :C

[@AVspectre]

Very interesting!

[@chubby_deity3143]

Since there are so many complaining about spoilers, I would just like to say, I don't mind them. You do you.

[@sjml1616]

This has nothing to do with the content, but your hair looks fantastic in this 😍lol

i also loved that line when zac’s character and his daugher (idk their names) were burying the cat and zac tells something like “may he rest in peace.. or she.. or they” 🤣🤣🤣

[@codytidwell5086]

Great review! Have to say I think the OG Misery adaptation is nearly perfect so I don’t care to ever see it remade 😅 would love an adaptation of Duma Key or Revival though - two of my very favorite King books

[@randomdude_2000]

ive been watching you for years and your reviews are getting better and better, I love your authenticity and honesty even if sometimes i dont agree with your opinions.

[@PossessedbyHorror]

thank you so much!!

[@MRod774]

I think I mainly enjoyed it just because of the updates with the special effects, specifically the gore because I really didn't think that they would take it that far. Other than that I kinda liked how they do smaller changes like the old couple or how charlie and her dad end up in the shop from the original (I haven't read the book) and even though they take out some of the suspense and sympathy that was in the first one with Charlie I think this remake is pretty good. If anything it's middle of the road compared to other remakes that just are downright not good.

[@J_lynner]

I agree.

[@lilpoet27]

For a Misery remake, I would cast Vera Farmiga as Annie Wilkes. She definitely has the range as evidenced by her performance in Bates Motel.

[@jacobneale5844]

Your new hair looks great !!!! 💫💫💫💫💫💫

[@l.r.g6061]

Omg I can't believe you are trying to do ALL King's adaptation, good luck!

[@PossessedbyHorror]

just his movies (not anthologies) and only those based on a full length novel (not short stories or when he’s just the writer of a movie)

[@Kenji_Harima]

*The original Firestarter is Oscar-worthy compared to the new one lol*

[@austindolan7182]

with george c scott winning best supporting actor, because he's fantastic.

[@Teatime7771]

@@austindolan7182 even though he is playing a Native American character and he is clearly not.

[@austindolan7182]

@@Teatime7771 doesn't even matter, he's fantastic, and it's hardly apparent he's native. unless you've read the book, it hardly makes any mention. why can't he have a native dad, and just be white like his mom?

[@billiep1603]

I’d like to see a Misery remake tbh. Make it bloodier because in the book she chops his foot off instead of breaking his ankles. Also a shining remake that’s faithful to the book because I think the book is awesome and is nothing like the movie.

[@austindolan7182]

the shining mini series from 97 already did that and it sucked.

[@payt00n]

Imo I think the foot breaking is a lot more disturbing to me idk it's more gruesome to me.

[@TheFrankenstina]

Season 2 of Castle Rock features Annie Wilkes as a character (although it changes her story COMPLETELY.) and Lizzy Caplan portrayed the character beautifully. (Love or hate the direction they took with it)

[@enormouslittlethings6893]

Yes to Christine! The best 80’s King movie, hands down.

[@Monius13]

The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption are 2 of the best films ever made! I'm so excited to hear your thoughts on them!

[@sarasthoughts]

I was SO looking forward to a good King adaptation 😭😭 I'm still waiting for a good "the girl who loved tom gordon" movie

[@celestialsaph6402]

I absolutely love Misery, either that or the Mist would be my favorite King adaptations, but I just don’t know what else they could do with Misery that would necessarily *justify* a remake? Maybe more of a reboot/sequel where we see Paul haunted by the trauma manifesting as hallucinations of Annie?

[@dontdiscriminatehateeveryo9263]

No bc the actors are too old and that deaging technology is creepy and unnatural.

[@graciacardassia7306]

I watched it last week and my expectations were already low. I was so bored. A lot of things just didn't make sense. Yes, it is ok to change some things in a reboot, but there wasn't much left of the original story except for the family with the supernatural powers and the government hunting them. It didn' ad anything to the story but stripped it of all the important topics it used to deal with. So all that was left, was a stylish look, Carpenter's music and some nice special effects but that is simply not enough for a movie to entertain.

[@the_ugg3]

I love the original so much the casting was soo good the father daughter relationship was sooo good drew berrymore was amazing in it

[@SundayMorning6amBLBC]

I saw Misery on Broadway in the early 2000's and let me tell you, Laurie Metcalf played the woman and she can play crazy like no other (hello, killer in Scream 2!). She could be in the remake.

[@BluewondeR10]

Oh my that whole contact lens scene sounds so bad and even the idea of using contact lenses as protection makes me lol. Plus animal cruelty is a huge no for me so this movie sounds like a hard pass.

[@brennangriffin9244]

PLEASE do a Christine review! I would love to hear your thoughts, it’s one of my favorite of Carpenter AND King movies

[@chantalgiroux51]

How would you feel about a modern version of misery? I know celeb stalkers and obsession has always been a thing, but with people marrying cut outs of their favourite artists, I feel like it's been taken to a new level. I think if done well, a reimagining of misery in modern day could be really cool. I can also see how there is a lot of potential for it to fail. I don't know. Thoughts?

[@katrinabrown]

Ah, I'm kinda nervous about all the 20+ King adaptations that are in progress 👀

[@thekitchenwitch3162]

Christine is in my top 3 favorite Stephen King movies. Underrated.

[@aaronroberts6787]

How is Christine underrated?? It is widely considered one of his best movies.

[@charlene9489]

I appreciate your review. Saved me $10

[@laurenpoole7238]

How exciting for you to watch shawshank and green mile for the first time. They re some of the best for a reason. Shawshank i watched again recently its just a perfect movie. Im glad i waited till my late 20s to watch it the first time, i think i appreciated it so much more.

[@terryanglerosanchez9054]

Omg! You need The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption in your life💫 Happy baby bump💖

[@coolhive2941]

Yeah, I’ll pass. But I will check out the soundtrack for sure! Also, can’t wait for King Tier List. FirestRter reminds me of the 80’s when only every 4th king movie was any good. It was a rough time for him. But Christine was definitely a high point. So glad you finally saw it. Please do a review! Finally, yay to seeing Shawshank and Green Mile. Those are Top Tier for sure.

[@limetreess]

I hated the movie but definitely downloaded the soundtrack 😎

[@OBCDeeznutz]

Also completely agree with the Zac thing. And the cat scene was really what did it for me, after that I was not only bored but felt crummy.

[@musixblender9089]

I actually both love the og and the remake version and i love how they changes the twist of remake.

[@ReelShowtime]

The ending credits is my favorite part

[@skylarutd]

The cgi and graphics were quite good. Shame the plot wasn't

[@garethallen4191]

I'm with ya on Firestarter. Never read it, never saw it, never will. Christine rocks! The book's even better! Haven't read The Green Mile yet, but I thought the movie was great. Probably a little dated now.

[@timreno72]

The fact I didn't even know they remade this movie I think says a lot.

[@IsSarahPi]

The Shawshank Redemption is one of those films that was on TV all the time growing up but I only sat down and watched it the whole way through relatively recently. It's a really good film.

[@yourallgnnadie]

I saw the original when I was a small child and don't remember it. That says a lot because if it were even remotely scary I would have remembered it.

[@boopbeep8]

so i watched the 80s one a few months ago in anticipation for the remake... i kinda hated it lol it was so boring and i hated the focus on that creepy man trying to cultivate this pervy relationship with Charlie.... so going into the remake i was hesitant and not expecting it to be good. but i ended up really liking it. it just felt very Stephen King and I've missed that. the soundtrack was so good probably because it had John Carpenter's influence. i also really liked the changes they made when it came to the mother having more of a role & the assassin guy who also had powers. i liked the ending with the two of them teaming up and i honestly really want a sequel

[@kyleh698]

the score was amazing. I too was surprise d to see his name pop up

[@justme-rj7pw]

Wow your channel is beautiful I love it 😍 ♥️ Great content

[@madisonhoffman4144]

I agree with a lot of what you’re saying, and thank god you made this review. I thought i was the only one who didn’t like it, tbh. To me it felt really disorganized and there were too many storylines going on with the moms background and the doctor who made the serum and rainbird.. there was so much going on and just not a lot explained. Maybe if it would have been the length of an avengers film (3 or so hours) it would have been better?

[@JStorkey6]

the trailer opening with a bully going "hahaaa loser!" really set my expectations for this

[@bennuinspace6688]

this is a book worth reading. they havent done it justice yet, which is typical of steven king stories. consider reading it though.

[@Glub2]

I’ve seen some good comments for a Misery recast but I’d say Sarah Paulson, after watching Run. I think she’d play the sweet/sinister role of Annie Wilkes really well

[@dxlanx4408]

Sarah Paulson as Annie in Misery!

[@doedarling1215]

Green Mile and Shawshank get me every time they are on TV. I have seen them both far too many times!

[@ladykhal]

I haven’t watched either Firestarter movie or read the book, but I can see why it was remade. I’ve heard people say that the first one was not very good, so it makes sense that they would try to make it good. Sadly it appears that they failed. I don’t say how they would be able to improve on Misery, so happy for them to continue ignoring it. Not horror (though prisoner of Azkaban and on scared me plenty), but do you have any videos on your Harry Potter collection? I just recently got into collecting the books (the illustrated UK editions) and would love to see what you’ve amassed in all your years. I’m getting back into books in general and have spent oh so many hours watching bookshelf tours.

[@Amanda-kd1zr]

Honestly while not a masterpiece the first movie is fun, campy, and story-wise very faithful to the book. Plus, Drew Barrymore is great as Charlie and the pyrotechnics were amazing. Not the best ever but I liked WAY more on the second watch. I disliked the new more on the second watch it :/ I feel like updating the story hurts it, if they ever try to make it again, I think it needs to be set in the 80s again, with all that MK Ultra paranoia. While quite a few people (especially reviewers) find Firestarter (1984) bland/weaker I've also seen a lot people who REALLY dig it and never get over it. Particularly kids that wished they had powers lol. I think a lot of the reason for the disappointment in the first one was the comparison to Carrie which was a great cinematic experience. So, even King was like, "...That was ok, I guess..."

[@lemonnomel9416]

When I told my friend about how bad this movie was he said it sounded like it was just an excuse to launder money and, honestly, I believe it.

[@flibber123]

Firestarter, the book, is one of my favorite King stories. One element I like about it is that it's relatively fast paced. Unlike some of King's more sprawling stories, this one gets to the point quick. The first movie was sort of okay although it has that cheap '80s feel that a lot of King adaptations had back then. This new one though is pretty bad. It starts slow and somehow gets slower. They did change a lot. It's different, like the Kubrick Shining is different than the book, but the changes don't make things better or more cinematic. Worse of all, the ending of the movie is very much the opposite of the spirit of the ending of the book- boo!

[@chromesthesia]

it is a very satisfying king book

[@KillerLooks]

Yes mam...🖤🎃

[@game_spaces]

Misery was remade in season 2 of Castle Rock It was great! (edit: it was less of remake and more of a prequel)

[@Christian-nb5yo]

Lizzy Caplan was the one who played Kathy Bates character in Castle Rock and she was pretty great

[@markkenney6806]

I've wanted a Misery remake for so long! I wonder who could play Annie Wilkes

[@OttoSomething]

Toni Collette as Kathy Bates's character, Matthew Macfadyen as the writer

[@Brandon0844]

Your review makes me want to check it out to be honest. I love a good chase movie with Horror elements, but it seems to me more like a, "so bad it's good" type of deal. Fantastic breakdown eview, Sarah! Also, will you be seeing A24's MEN coming out this weekend?

[@AVspectre]

She did a review with her boyfriend. :)

[@emiliacrowe1860]

I remember seeing the first trailer in the theater when I went to see Everything Everywhere All At Once (Which WAS amazing and I would recommend to anyone) and finding myself irritated by the amount of screaming that the little girl did. No hate on the actress, I'm sure that was either a directoral choice or just the way the trailer was cut, but...yeah. It didn't exactly sell me that this was a movie I needed in my life.

[@brittneycarver557]

nothing to do with firestarter but christine was actually the first horror movie i watched. my dad had just turned it on and i watched it and it scarred me tbh. i still can't walk down a driveway without the fear of a car running me over. might have to give it a rewatch!

[@HorrorNorms]

You need to watch Shawshank Redemption today. It's an all-time favorite. Green mile is good too and both have strong themes but just awesome cinema 🎥

[@michellehalemassacre]

All I read were comments about how bad this reboot is. I went and watched it yesterday and did enjoy it, I have also always liked Zac and the actress who plays his daughter is great at expressing emotions. The animal gore wasn't okay I will agree with you. I think the reason I liked it so much was because I connected them to Xmen even though they have nothing to do with them. I also enjoyed the cinemetography and the fact that lighting was used properly.

[@Corn_Pone_Flicks]

It's just a remake. "Reboot" means wiping out an existing continuity, e.g. Batman Begins., or The Batman, for that matter. Firestarter was only ever one film, not a franchise.

[@jayforpay7774]

I have no idea how old Annie Wilkes is supposed to be but Isabelle huppert would be a rlly gd in a misery movie

[@ThatZillaGuy2]

What killed my hope for the film was the "superhero" tagline I saw on the FB adds. The book and first film never used such a marketing trick.

[@priscillaortiz8324]

Tier list for reboots? 👀

[@joeertman]

Sarah!! How have you NEVER seen Shawshank Redemption?? It’s great!

[@CEDtalks85]

I would cast Gracie Gillam. Her role in Superhost makes her perfect for the Misery role.

[@razvaneftimiu6986]

Hi Sarah, I would suggest the sadness from shudder if you haven't seen it already even though it's not related to this movie at all.

[@PossessedbyHorror]

I will be skipping that one too graphic and too many triggers for me personally

[@themandyf]

I would be afraid of them remaking the Misery. I think everything about the original is perfect. And I, too, had not seen Shawshank until a year ago for the first time. It's a good movie!

[@sadmoms]

i would love a remake of salems lot or needful things😌

[@antirawk]

They didn't even bother to make a new poster

[@mandyb2245]

I found this movie the other day online and watched it. I knew they were remaking it, but I had no idea it was coming out so soon. I first saw the original when I was little and it scared the crap outta me. I'm almost 40 and I still feel uneasy watching the 1984 version. It's weird. The violence in the movies these days don't disturb me that much, but that movie can still disturb me. Maybe it was because I saw it at a young age. I haven't read the book either, although I own it. This remake didn't disturb me either, except for the cat scene.

[@thedudeabides2968]

Tangerine Dream did the music in the original. Fantastic!

[@vinnieboove5095]

It's so camp like when she goes "Liar liar pants on fire" and when she screams "I'm coming daddy!" It was so out of no where. My theatre had maybe 3 groups/families and all of us were making fin of this movie and it's campiness.

[@chrisdaniela]

I see Olivia Colman or Rosamund Pike as Annie in Misery

[@probablyhyperfixating]

Or Kathy Bates could now be the author????

[@hedgeknight_17]

Hey Sarah! Been watching your contents for a while now. I love your contents so much and I can see that we have similar taste from Interstellar to The Ring. Have you thought of making a gaming channel? More specifically horro gaming channel. I think it would be interesting to se you play some horror games on youtube!

[@SethNewtonMusic]

Where can I get that shirt?

[@jtom779]

Wendi McLendon-Covey for Annie Wilkes in Misery.

[@the_ugg3]

I haven’t even seen any of them Steven king movies u were talking about at the end never even heard of em

[@kaitlinsbookshelf6362]

I haven’t seen the movie, but the “Liar liar pants on fire” line in the trailer irritates me and makes me not want to watch it. Corny for no reason🙄

[@PossessedbyHorror]

it was so cringe 😬

[@toxicsugarart2103]

If they redid misery I would cast toni colette. She can do literally anything. 💕

[@PossessedbyHorror]

ugh yes

[@vinnieboove5095]

I feel like the cat death was needed to show how extreme her power was. Also to show how hard it is to handle. She needed to learn that 1. She can't let things suffer, and 2. She needs to control her power.

[@kristopherschermerhorn998]

You should watch The Innocents as well, a new Nordic horror/thriller/drama. Just be prepared, it is very heavy. I didn’t enjoy it very much my first viewing, lol. But enjoyed second view and it’s grown into my favorite film so far of 2022. A must see for sure. Streaming now. Fair warning though, there is a similar scene of violence to a cat that is very brutal.

[@jasoncannon511]

If you like Christine, you should see Maximum Overdrive Stephen King actually wrote that movie for the screen, it wasn't a book. It is awesome!

[@vinnieboove5095]

I'm a huge Stephan King fan so maybe I'm biased, but I liked it

[@kylew9454]

Please review Everything Everywhere All At Once!! Think you would really love it 😁