Firestarter

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Firestarter is available in the US on Netflix, and in the UK on Channel 4 Plus right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 5/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Ryan Kiera Armstrong leads a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Firestarter arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Firestarter uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. For more than a decade, parents Andy and Vicky have been on the run, desperate to hide their daughter Charlie from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her unprecedented gift for creating fire into a weapon of mass destruction. Andy has taught Charlie how to defuse her power, which is triggered by anger or pain. But as Charlie turns 11, the fire becomes harder and harder to control. Ryan Kiera Armstrong and Zac Efron lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2022. Firestarter resists the temptation to explain everything, trusting the audience to sit with ambiguity. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Firestarter is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Ryan Kiera Armstrong's performance is the anchor the more ambitious moments need. The world-building pays off in ways you will not anticipate on a first watch.