MARK L. LESTER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BB.5. 

USA, 1984.  Dino De Laurentiis Company, Universal Pictures.  Screenplay by Stanley Mann, based on the novel by Stephen King.  Cinematography by Giuseppe Ruzzolini.  Produced by Frank Capra Jr..  Music by Tangerine Dream.  Production Design by Giorgio Postiglione.  Costume Design by Michael Butler.  Film Editing by David Rawlins, Ronald Sanders.  

Drew Barrymore has mysterious powers of pyrokinesis as the result of experimentation done on her telekinetic parents in this silly science-fiction film. She’s a sweet little kid, but every time something bad happens to her and she gets upset, she has the terrible habit of setting things on fire. When her father tries to take her away to safety, they are chased after by the members of the organization who are responsible for her abilities. The more they pursue her, the more she learns to hone her skills towards destroying all who cross her path. Barrymore is adorable, but the story is too ridiculous for words and never really sells itself to the audience. The last third, where she’s taken in protective custody by the mysterious organization, is too heavy-handed and ruins the fun that came before it.