When I first saw this flick on the big screen I loathed it. Catching it on video made me appreciate it more but its still pretty messy. I’ll start with the positive. First off on a visual standpoint the film is very beautiful to look at. It mixes black and white with color, has great image composition and I really enjoyed the poetic/sad feel the movie gave out. It also has a great lead in Emily Bergl (Rachel) who acts this one out as if an Oscar was looming above her head. She’s too good for this movie. The love story aspect of this film is also quite touching. Kind of like a “Romeo And Juliet” thang. (the reject girl falls in love with the hip popular jock). Everytime Bergl and London (he plays the jock) share scenes together the chemistry flies, they’re interaction comes across as very real and natural. Now what does all of this have to do with a girl that slaughters people with her mind? Alas there’s the rub.

The blood-soaked finale bothered me. I mean its fun stuff but it definitely feels out of place. I was like when did this become an action flick with flare guns and harpoon guns being used as weapons? Why is all this blood being shed, haven’t I been watching a drama for an hour and a half??? It just didn’t gel.  Also can you tell me when did Rachel become such a pro with her powers? Throughout the film she’s breaking shite left and right cause she has no control. But in the massacre scene she uses her mental skills like an “X-Men” recruit! 

 The conclusion is not the only thing that’s off kilter, the characters too. All the hip guys are heartless a-holes and are so mean that it’s not human. All the hip girls are mega bitches in disguise always ready to backstab. The hip gang’s plotting against Emily is taken way too far and I didn’t buy it for a second, especially since their reason is so damn weak. Now I could buy one super evil character…but ALL OF THEM??? Come on! Is this High School or hell? Felt like the latter. Their one-dimensional presences clash with the truthful vibe Bergl’s and London’s characters emanate therefore making the whole of the film feel disjointed. Bergl and London’s characters belong in another (better) movie.

 Another thing that didn’t help the film’s structure was slapping in Sue’s (Irving) plight in there. Sue is the only survivor from the original “Carrie” and that’s the sole purpose of her presence… to connect both films. The whole ordeal she goes through with Rachel and with Rachel’s mom drags the flick down, kills the pacing and the film could have easily done without it. The Sue character is not the only element that’s there to create a forced connection between the two films. We get flashbacks galore from the first one and Rachel is eventually tied to the original Carrie in some far-fetched way (Ralph this…).

I don’t get why they tried to tie both films together so hard? The original was released 23 years before this one. Why feel the need to connect them? The audience this movie is aimed at weren’t even born when the first one came out! What I’m trying to say is that this film could have stood on its own two feet. It should’ve just been called RAGE. 

Charlotte Ayanna was Miss Teen USA in 1993 and was known as Charlotte Lopez.

Mena Suvari (from American Pie/Beauty) has a small part here. She plays Lisa.

Robert Mandel was directing the flick but quit over creative differences with the studio. Shea moved in and is the only one credited for it.

There’s another ending out there where Jesse awakens from his dream and a snake erupts from Rachel’s mouth, wraps itself around his neck and chokes him.

Emily Bergl is English from England…great accent girl…call me…

Did you guys catch the “Scream” reference? One hint: It’s when Mark is on the phone.