Directed By: Katt Shea
Written By: Rafael Moreu
Cinematography By: Donald M. Morgan
Editor: Richard Nord
Cast: Emily Bergl, Amy Irving, Jason London, Dylan Bruno, J. Smith-Cameron, Zachary Ty Smith, John Doe, Eddie Kaye-Thomas, Mena Suvari, Charlotte Ayanna, Rachel Blanchard, Justin Urich, Gordon Clapp, Eli Craig
After the suicide of her only friend, Rachel has never felt more on the outside. The one person who reached out to her, Jessie, also happens to be part of the popular crowd that lives to torment outsiders like her. But Rachel has something else that separates her from the rest, a secret amazing ability to move things with her mind. Sue Snell, the only survivor of Carrie White's rampage twenty-two years ago, may hold the key to helping Rachel come to terms with her awesome, but unwanted power. But as Rachel slowly learns to trust, a terrible trap is being laid for her. And making her angry could prove to be fatal.
Loosely based on a real-life 1993 incident in which a group of high school jocks, the The Spur Posse, were involved in a sex scandal.
The 13 February 1998 draft of the screenplay lists Howard A. Rodman as a writer. He did not receive a credit for the final film. He should be thankful to a degree
When this came out I had mixed feelings as I felt Carrie doesn't need a sequel as it's a classic an you are not going to do it any better, nor doesn't lend itself to a sequel. Though once it was released as tv was playing at the theater I worked at, at the time. I decided to check out and predictably I was disappointed. Even though I didn't pay to see it.
It makes me wonder could there have ever really been a satisfactory sequel to this horror classic. The original had something to fall back on. The book and a vibrant director making a name for himself who was inspired by the material and added his usual flair and style that worked for the film. This film is a totally original project where they had to make it up as they went along. So of course they borrowed the same framework of the first film.
The two directors linked to the film, whose respective films I like as guilty pleasures THE SUBSTITUTE (Robert Mandel) and POISON IVY (Katt Shea) so i figured even if horrible the film could be up being a guilty pleasure unfortunately that didn't happen. Katt Shea took on the role of director after Robert Mandel quit over creative differences. Only Shea's name is listed as director in the opening credits.
Either way it wasn't going to be easy to follow in the footsteps when the director of the first film went on to become and auteur.
Unfortunately the film plays like amateur hours as it plays like a straight to home video sequel that luckily got a theatrical release, due to lack of product for the studio around Halloween. When most horror films are released and make more money then usual. It also allowed MGM which was starting to go under a chance to use one of their titles to hopefully be a surprise hit which they needed at the time. Of course now the practice is used though mercifully most sequels that are usually sequels only in title as the original stars and creators don't return.
Amy Irving is the only person from the original film to be in the film as I guess carry over the torch to link the films. Though she isn't in much of the film and kind of then excused from the film to be in a very disrespectful way.
Actress Charlotte Ayanna plays Tracy Campbell in this film, a popular girl who takes part in the cruel prank to mock Rachel and turns fatal. In the film "Jawbreaker", Ayanna played another popular girl, who died in the beginning due to a terrible prank gone wrong. Her parents were played by two actors who starred in the original "Carrie" as popular kids who played different parts in altering Carrie's life through prom night.
Originally entitled "The Curse" and later "Say You're Sorry", before the final title "The Rage" was chosen. Curiously, the Brazilian-Portuguese title for this film is "A Maldição de Carrie" ("The Curse of Carrie").
"Rage" was also the title of the first novel that Stephen King published under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman. That novel climaxed with a school shooting and, after a string of real school shootings, King decided not to allow the book to be published anymore. Interesting enough, this sequel was released only one month before the Columbine shooting.
As usual it seems when it comes to teen films the actors are too old for their roles.
The sequel tries to be a modern update on the original with some mythology about how the power is passed along.
Though Carrie doesn't deserve the punishment she is subject to. We care about her as she was an innocent. Who truly didn't know any better.
The Carrie of this film is a little more in the know, has more character to her. At times we see her truly open an innocent. Though here she is more just an average person my sheltered. She is also more assertive and confident. Though we know eventually she will have to take a fall.
The film's story was inspired a bit by modern culture at the time. Though the films miscasting doesn't do it any favors and the script needed to be worked on majorly. Also for a film that relies on being sexual. There is a lot of talk about it though when shown looks horrible. I don't mean it's not erotic. Items just not hot well and at times laughable.
The only great scene that is worth watching the film for is he revenge massacre. That is gory as hell and excessively over the top. Yet strangely compelling
It helps to watch the whole film to see the build up and the context of the scene.
Though in the end this film suffers from being low end and seems rushed with very little thought or effort in the making of the film. So that while being a sequel that comes decades later that would have great anticipation. Instead they let it be a carbon copy cheap product that never has it's own character about it. To make it noteworthy.
Grade: D+
No comments:
Post a Comment