Another ‘Firestarter’ warms the nation’s screens

Above : Ryan Kiera Armstrong stars in a new adaptation of Stephen King’s novel “Firestarter.” (Photo/Blumhouse)

How’s this for an obvious statement? Stephen King novels and stories make for popular cinema.

How popular? Good question. Maybe the best answer will be put forth on Friday when another version of King’s 1980 novel “Firestarter” opens in theaters.

The novel was first published in two parts, in July and August, in the science-fiction magazine Omni. Since then, it has been adapted into both movies and a miniseries.

The latest movie , directed by Keith Thomas and based on a screenplay by Scott Teems, stars Zac Efron and Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kurtwood Smith and Gloria Reuben.

Thomas’ only other feature film is 2019’s “The Vigil,” which earned a 90 percent Fresh Rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes – though, curiously enough, only a 52 percent audience score.

There are no critical reviews available at this point for this new adaptation of “Firestarter,” which is never a good sign. But based on the critical reaction to “The Vigil,” maybe we should give it a chance – even for yet another movie retelling of a 42-year-old horror novel.

I’ll report back when the reviews do begin to appear.