Drew Barrymore is the childhood star that made it. She made her way through the rough waters of Hollywood and found fame that has lasted more than thirty years. It seems impossible that a woman who lacks the basic talent needed to portray even the simplest of emotions has had the pleasure of working alongside stars such as Jake Gyllenhaall and Tommy Lee Jones.
It seems even more absurd, considering these previous statements, to say that Barrymore’s talent was quite rich at a young age. She appeared to possess a talent, while minimal, that shined brightly alongside other lesser known talents. Being that this is one of Barrymore’s first films, and her talent had not yet dwindled; her performance as the tiny, fire starting terror, Charlene “Charlie” McGee was quite impressive. While McGee’s insane abilities are somewhat terrifying, Barrymore managed to display deep despair, allowing audiences to empathize with her and appreciate the pain that she experienced.
Stephen King’s stories, like Barrymore, have stood the test of time and have continued to entertain the masses ever since his first novel, Carrie, was published in 1974. King deserves every lick of recognition he has received throughout the course of his life, and it seems hard to believe that his fantastical prowess will end any time soon. While the majority of King’s stories are supernatural, he finds ways to connect audiences to his characters. King perfectly wrote the relationship between Charlie and her father, Andy (David Keith).
The relationship between those two mirror the relationship that all parents dream of having with their children; they adore each other and they care so deeply for one another that they would do nearly anything to make the other happy. The film runs slowly and it is simply the relationship that Charlie and Andy have (as well as the faux relationship that Charlie eventually forms with George C. Scott’s John Rainbird) that guides the story and keeps audiences interested. Even with the outstanding abilities of Charlie and Andy, it is basic human nature, emotion, that takes over and is the true gem of King’s story.
Giuseppe Ruzzolini uses extreme closeups to play on the emotions of the characters and draw audiences into the story. His ability to pull audiences as close as possible to the pain and agony on Charlie’s face allowed those viewers to empathize with her even more than would be possible with typical shots. Like King (and director Mark L. Lester), Ruzzolini uses that emotion to guide the film.
Science fiction appears to be the basis of the story, but it is emotion that is truly the heart and soul of King’s timeless masterpiece.
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