Spoiler-Free Review of “Firestarter” (2022) on Peacock: Flashy effects but lacks edge

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“You’re strong so you don’t have to be afraid…”

Firestarter (2022) premiered in theaters and on Peacock on May 13th 2022. The science fiction horror film (based on the novel and film of the same name) stars Zac Efron, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Sydney Lemmon, and Michael Greyeyes. It runs for an hour and thirty-five minutes.

A young couple tries to hide their daughter from a secret agency that wants to use her abilities for mass destruction.

Here is the trailer:

Firestarter has some impressive effects and a decent enough cast, but did we really need a re-imagining of the original film? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Decent effects.

The original Firestarter came out in 1984 so one major improvement was the effects used throughout the film. They were actually really impressive and probably the best part of it. Don’t mess with Charlie!

Images courtesy of Peacock

Stand-out performances.

Zac Efron is actually not bad in this film. However, Armstrong and Greyeyes steal the show. I thought both of them were really strong and they saved the film in a lot of ways. I would have liked to have seen a little bit more backstory for some of the other characters to fill in some gaps but the length of the film was just about right.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Cringe-worthy dialogue…

The dialogue was really not great in this one and the film was pretty predictable. The acting was fine for some characters but I think the makers of this movie could have done a lot more. I rarely expect a remake to outshine the original one, but I was expecting something new and fresh and instead everything was just sort of okay and unnecessary…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m 50/50 on this one…

The film is not bad and is watchable for the most part, but there just isn’t anything extraordinary about it. It’s lacking edge and other than some cool visual effects, I’m not sure that we needed a new version of this film.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Firestarter (2022) in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Helstrom” on Hulu: Where’s the horror?

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“I’m not here to hold hands or save a cat from a tree or respond to false alarms….”

Helstrom is a new superhero horror series on Hulu, which premiered as part of their Huluween line-up on October 16th 2020 with 10 episodes available to stream now (approximately 55 minutes in length). It stars Tom Austen, Sydney Lemmon, and Elizabeth Marvel.

Based on the Marvel Cinematic Universe character, Daimon Hellstrom (Son of Satan), the series follows siblings, Daimon and Ana Helstrom. The estranged siblings possess supernatural abilities that aid in their quest to exorcise demons and eliminate threats, while they come to terms with their dark past.

Here is the trailer:

A horror superhero series could be filled with lots of potential, but it’s concerning that Marvel removed its name from the title. Either way, I went into this show hoping for some welcomed dark horror, along with some new unique characters. But does Helstrom do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Helstrom Elizabeth Marvel

Images courtesy of Hulu

Elizabeth Marvel is bloody fantastic!

I was a fan of hers already, but wow does she play this part well. She is the mother of Daimon and Ana and is showing signs of being possessed by a demon. We’ve seen show after show featuring some kind of demon possession, but I have to say that she frightened me and in a very good way.

Ana’s wardrobe is to die for.

Helstrom Ana

Images courtesy of Hulu

Every single time she made an entrance, I was drooling over her wardrobe and then some. Ana was the stronger character for me throughout the series, but her amazing outfits definitely helped capture my attention.

The Cons:

Helstrom on Hulu

Images courtesy of Hulu

Slow, unfocused, and sloppy.

I really had high hopes for this show and the cast had the potential to really bring it to life, but the execution did not translate well. The pacing is extremely slow, the reveals are not rewarding enough, and the characters don’t have enough layers to keep you invested. 

There have been plenty of shows about demonic possession and jaded antiheroes reminding us of the good vs. evil premise that just do this better. Shows like Lucifer, Constantine, Outcast, and Supernatural come to mind.

Unworthy of the horror label.

I was actually really excited to watch another horror superhero premise. There is something to be said about the dark line between right and wrong and the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of humanity.

Unfortunately, Helstrom never really earned its horror badge. There were a few cringe-worthy scenes that were displeasing to the eye, but that’s about it…

So am I in or out?

Helstrom on Hulu 2

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in for the fashion, but unfortunately I’m out on this watch.

The show fell into the forgettable limbo of overdone demonic possession shows for me. The pacing was slow and there were a lot of missed opportunities. 

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Helstrom in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

If you have time, I would love it if you would check out my book, Dash and Seek in the link below. Thank you and I hope you enjoy!

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

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