Reviewed by Melissa Garza
“Sometimes I really wish I could just be one of the shiny happy people” – Rachel
Thanks to Wes Craven’s Scream, horror was given a second chance in the mainstream. The Rage: Carrie 2 was one of the children that spawned during this timeframe.
The original Carrie was a fantastic movie and despite the ending, a tale of success for teens who were bullied everywhere. Sissy Spacek is one of the greatest actresses to ever grace the screen and her range as an actress is unsurpassed. I would argue that the success of Carrie was more due to Spacek than Stephen King.
I unlike a lot of individuals enjoy many horror sequels. In the horror world, most films are subject to sequels and if done appropriately can build on a great story. Halloween 2 (the sequel to John Carpenter’s classic – not Rob Zombie’s version) is a testimonial as is Dawn of the Dead, Phantasm 2, and Psycho II. It doesn’t matter that they fail to outshine the first but only that they stand on their own.
That said, sequels should be far different than remakes. Where remakes often not only fail to capture the essence that made the original great, they often trade in depth for what they perceive as outrageous or shocking. The 2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre for example traded in the disturbingly frightening shots of a peaceful day combined with a woman hung on meat hooks for an obese woman and an old man hooked to a colostomy bag. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – there is a difference between the shocking scenes in the Exorcist which stay with one far after the film ends to a gross scene in the Jackass show that makes one turn away in disgust. The latter is easy to accomplish, takes no talent and attracts the lowest denominator. The former however is intelligent, well thought out, and brilliantly executed.
The Rage: Carrie 2 could have easily been a remake rather than a sequel, though thankfully it came before the Michael Bay era and thus actually has a plot and does without the gross out gags.
It opens with Rachel (Emily Bergl) is a goth chick with special powers that she tries to keep under wraps. Her mother was taken away when she was only a child and she was thus put into a foster home. Her foster parents are the typical white trash who only keep her for the paycheck.
Other than her best friend Lisa (Mena Suvari) who she shares a tattoo with her life is pretty empty. She isolates herself completely. One day while on the bus Lisa tells her that she lost her virginity. Rachel asks by who but Lisa doesn’t tell. Later that day, Lisa jumps to her death. Rachel who sees the aftermath yells at the top of her lungs thus opening all the lockers.
Sue Snell (Amy Irving) who was one of Carrie’s tormenters is now a guidance counselor in the school. She can tell that something isn’t right and attempts to work with Rachel to ensure the nightmare doesn’t happen again.
Rachel soon finds out the reason Lisa killed herself was because one of the popular boys Eric (Zachary Ty Bryan) had only had sex with her on a bet. Rachel intends to help prosecutors put Eric away for statutory rape. Eric panics and visits his friend Mark (Dylan Bruno) who decides to help shut her up. They begin making crude calls and spying on her. They turn the lights on in her house and break windows. Things get out of control when Eric puts on brass knuckles. Thankfully, she is able to use her telekinetic powers to stop the break-in.
As this transpires, a love connection brews between Rachel and one of the other “in-clique” boys Jesse (Jason London). Popular girls soon take notice and too jump on the harassing of Rachel. Sue seeing the trend and having flash books of Carrie covered in pig’s blood, tries her best to intervene as history seems intent on repeating itself. She goes to the institution and visits Rachel’s mother to find out who her father is as she believes the power that Rachel has was a genetic disorder passed through the male gene. After some heavy persuasion, her mother confesses that Ralph White, Carrie’s father was also Rachel’s. After receiving confirmation, Sue brings Rachel to the original high school which is still just burnt remains. She tells Rachel all about Carrie and tells her that the same genetic trait Carrie had, Rachel has too.
The Rage: Carrie 2 has its good points and bad. It’s watch-able though pales in comparison to the original. It’s almost has the feel of a high-budget Lifetime movie. In certain areas it tries too hard. The lead character is more attractive than she should be considering the level of bullying she endures. The best scenes are the flashbacks from the original. Sissy Spacek standing in blood and fire staring ahead in a demonic trance remains one of the best scenes in cinematic history.
Still, there is an awesome quality of the sequel that stands out – almost more than it should. The use of colors is wonderful. In one scene, as Rachel confronts Eric at the lockers the calculated use of red and blue adds much more to the scene. Some may comment on the lack of subtlety where the colors are concerned, but often horror shouldn’t be held to the same standards of other films. They’re different and sometimes in-your-face is exactly what is needed. In this film, the choice of colors did exactly what it was supposed to. It was off-putting. Likewise, the black-and-white segments during Rachel’s telekinetic moments were well executed as well. It added another level to the scenes that otherwise wouldn’t have provided the needed punch to accept Sue’s reaction of horror.
As the conclusion approaches, the clique pretend to be nice and accepting of Rachel and invite her to the big game. At first she declines, but under pressure she relents. The ending is predictable and leaves much to be desired.
The acting throughout is mediocre but in truth the dialogue didn’t give the opportunity to stand out. The plot though balanced was do much better in the original
On a side note, Jason London was one of my teen crushes when I was younger. He has been going through a lot in the news as of late as he has tried to stand by his family and help them in the best way – through tough love. Personally, I hope that he and his brother find peace and that his brother receives any help he may need.
Scared Stiff Rating: 5/10
