36 Years Ago Today, A Cult Sci-Fi Became the 1990s Wildest Stephen King Rip-Off

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Stephen King‘s stories have launched numerous well-known TV shows and movies, but they’ve also been widely copied. Many low-budget horror films have clearly taken ideas from King’s novels, and it’s surprising he hasn’t filed more lawsuits. He’s even introduced concepts that have become so common in popular culture, people often forget they originally came from his fiction.

Stephen King’s 1980 novel, Firestarter, tells the story of Andy and Charlie McGee, a couple who gained limited psychic abilities after taking an experimental drug. Andy developed telepathy, while Charlie gained telekinesis. Their daughter, however, possessed a far more powerful and dangerous gift: pyrokinesis – the ability to create fire with her mind. When a government agency called The Shop learns about her abilities, Andy and his daughter are forced to go on the run, as The Shop wants to control and weaponize her power. Firestarter became a popular cult classic, and the idea of pyrokinesis has become well-known in modern culture, even inspiring the 1990 film Spontaneous Combustion.

Stephen King’s Firestarter vs. Tobe Hooper’s Spontaneous Combustion

Released in 1990, Spontaneous Combustion is a film directed by Tobe Hooper, known for directing classics like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Poltergeist. The story centers on Brian and Peggy Bell, who participate in a top-secret government project called “Operation Samson.” This experiment gives them the incredible ability to survive nuclear blasts, but ultimately leads to their deaths through unexplained spontaneous combustion. Their son, David, is given a new life with a new identity, but he struggles with the same fiery affliction – bursting into flames when overwhelmed by emotion. He teams up with Lisa, whose parents were also involved in the experiments, to uncover the truth about his origins and prevent his uncontrollable power from harming others – and himself.

It’s obvious that the movie Spontaneous Combustion closely follows the plot of Stephen King’s Firestarter. The fact that Tobe Hooper is credited with the story only strengthens that idea, suggesting he drew inspiration from King’s work. Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre gained further attention when people learned he based Leatherface and the story on the crimes of serial killer Ed Gein. Given Hooper’s known love for horror and King’s writing, it makes sense that he created Spontaneous Combustion as his own take on a similar sci-fi/horror theme.

Spontaneous Combustion Is Still Worth A Watch (At Least Once)

Though not as well-known as some of his other films, Spontaneous Combustion is undeniably a Tobe Hooper creation. Hooper is celebrated by horror fans as a truly original filmmaker who often defied Hollywood conventions. He was known for pushing the limits of the genre, frequently incorporating intense violence and disturbing imagery into his uniquely twisted and unsettling visions.

Compared to Firestarter, Spontaneous Combustion feels like a more over-the-top, comic-book-style horror film. It features a particularly wild performance from horror veteran Brad Dourif (known for Chucky), and many consider his work in this movie to be the film’s strongest point. Film critic Simon Abrams noted that even in lesser-known films like Spontaneous Combustion, director Tom Hooper and Dourif both demonstrated their talent, making the otherwise unremarkable 1990 creature feature surprisingly engaging thanks to Dourif’s unhinged performance.

Another fun part of this movie is how hilariously bad the special effects are. Things like David destroying enemies with fire or electricity, or making fake fire hands, look ridiculous by today’s standards. But it’s that over-the-top, cheesy ’80s vibe that makes it so entertaining – you can’t help but laugh, even if it’s at the movie.

You can watch Spontaneous Combustion for free on Tubi! Come share your thoughts on your favorite cult horror movies with other fans on the ComicBook Forum.

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2026-02-24 00:40