Firehead Explained

Firehead
Director:Peter Yuval
Producer:David Winters
Peter Yuval
Starring:Christopher Plummer
Chris Lemmon
Brett Porter
Gretchen Becker
Martin Landau
Music:Vladimir Horunzhy
Cinematography:Paul Maibaum
Editing:Steven Nielson
Studio:Action International Pictures
Runtime:88 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

Firehead is a 1991 science fiction - thriller film. It was directed by Peter Yuval for Action International Pictures, and stars Chris Lemmon and Christopher Plummer. It was filmed in Mobile, Alabama and released theatrically in 1991.

Plot

In 1988, a telekinetic Soviet agent known as "Firehead" (Brett Porter) defects to the west after refusing to use his powers against Estonian protesters. Two years later, he begins blowing up American munitions factories for unknown reasons. An NIH chemist (Chris Lemmon) and a government assassin (Gretchen Becker) are ordered to track him down. Meanwhile, a secret society led by Colonel Vaughn (Christopher Plummer) prepares to use Firehead's activities as a pretext for a coup d'état.

Reception

According to Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times, the film is "as inept and dismal a political thriller as you would never wish to watch", though he praised certain members of the cast, in particular the cameo appearance by Martin Landau.[1]

In 2013, it was the subject of a RiffTrax commentary track featuring Michael J. Nelson, Bill Corbett, and Kevin Murphy.[2] The trio directed much of their mockery toward Chris Lemmon, who was compared unfavorably to his more famous father.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thomas . Kevin . March 15, 1991 . Movie reviews: A Burned-Out 'Firehead' . Los Angeles Times.
  2. Web site: Firehead. 19 September 2014.