The Rage: Carrie 2 [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of The Rage: Carrie 2 [VHS]
Movie Review: No Good
Summary: 2 Stars
The Rage: Carrie 2 could have been something REALLY special...but, it fell completely flat for me. I actually saw this my junior year of high school and that is the only reason I am giving it 2 stars...for the mere fact that it brings back memories of good times, hanging out with friends and enjoying a cheesy flick together. However, seeing this movie was almost painful for me. I was SUCH a fan of Carrie when I was younger. It was such an interesting way to approach an outcast, taunted girl who happens to have telekentic powers. In the original, Carrie was a completely sympathetic character. She was a meek, abused, shy girl who was visibly terrified of people. You instantly felt sorry for her and in that final prom scene, you may have even rooted as she went on her revenge-based massacre, essentially wiping out her whole senior class.
In The Rage, the new Carrie is a character named Rachel, who *gasp!* has the same father as the original Carrie and has also inherited telekinetic abilities. Rachel is also an outcast and somewhat friendless character. She's actually a lot DIFFERENT then Carrie though. She is gutsy and brazzen. She speaks her mind and has a dark sense of humor. She is FAR more broody and unlikeable then Carrie was. Of course, as a viewer, you find yourself rooting for Rachel as the movie moves on...You don't want the jocks and mean kids tormenting her.
The main issue for me, was the finale. I wish there had been more carnage. Not to sound like a gore-freak and not to insinuate that there is no gore in this film-there are some gross moments...but, I wanted Rachel to have a little more kill-time in her final moments. Carrie's ending was great...but Rachel's was SO-SO. Another big nuisance with this movie were the random black and white moments. I mean, come on...everytime Rachel had a telekenetic moment or things got hectic the film would snap in and out of black and white film. Kind of amateur if you ask me.
Also, I have to agree with other reviewers who complained about Amy Irving's character being plunged back into this world only to be brutally knocked off for no apparent reason. She was such a monumental part of Carrie and it was almost insulting to throw her in this and have her impaled viciously when she was just a good woman, trying to save a troubled girl. I think they were just trying to pay homage to the original Carrie, where her friendly Coach is killed by the bleachers. Not really sure....it just didn't work for me and made me angry that they decided to knock off the Sue Snell character.
Overall, not really the best movie. Worth a peek if you have seen the original Carrie, but otherwise, stay away!!
Movie Review: Not the best but it was okay
Summary: 3 Stars
I recently bought this movie and saw that most of it's setting was at a high school and high school kids. Not that that's bad but this did make it get uninteresting in some areas but towards the end was a freaky/scary ending where the main character unleashes her telekinetic powers at a party where they were lots of high school kids around that aparked her rage. I've heard from a lot of people that Carrie part 1 is good but I saw it and it was in a 1970s or 80s setting which I didn't like so I wouldn't recommend Carrie part 1.Movie Review: It's better if...
Summary: 3 Stars
You look at this as it's own movie. As it's been said several times here. The plot is the same, give or take a few ingredients. However, I found that looking at this incredibly cheesy attempt at a sequel as it's own separate movie from the original, and it wasn't so bad. The characters were strong, and of course the plot made sense. And while it may have been a complete ripoff of the "Teen Slasher" flicks from this point in time, and the original, it had some interesting points as well, and definitely some interesting ways to kill someone off.
-Jen
Movie Review: Where are your dirty pillows?
Summary: 2 Stars
I guess the biggest surprise about this is the fact that it took so long before a sequel was made. Since Carrie came out in the 70s, it was common practice in those days to strike while the iron was hot and make a sequel as soon as possible. It didn't matter how cheesy or poor it was, as long as they kept name recognition in the audiences is what they thought brought in capital. Maybe it did in video rental later, which is the only hope this movie had to be seen. It made a statement, but it had been said before with Carrie.
Carrie and her old high school have long since been dead and burried; but, curiously enough, Sue Snell is still around (played once again by Amy Irving) in the new high school's guidance office. Here we have a new generation and new student body population. So many things change, but just as many things stay the same. It starts off shocking, when a girl jumps off the roof of the building, committing suicide. The note she left indicated a terrible story. It seems that the football team, in man's never ending virility quest, played a horrible prank on her. As a hazing incident, a member of the team wined and dined her into parting with her virginity. When he did so, he dropped her like a hot potato, added another notch onto his belt, and got a pat on the back from his fellow teammates. And, being that she (we assume) was the innocent, feels horrified, embarrassed and ashamed that she was taken advantage of, she ended it. From there, the story goes right into everything Carrie already said.
Rachel is the outcast, but she doesn't seem as helpless and nervous as her predecesor was, so we like rather than pity her. It so happens that she is the half sister of Carrie (they had the same father), and, surprise surprise, she inherrited the telekinetic powers. She too will fall prey to football team's 10,000 Virgins Or Bust plot, but it just happens to be with the one nice guy who says he loves her when it's too late. Under scenes of extreme stress she uses it. Instead of the prom, she distroys everyone at a huge party.
It did make me think, for an instant, about what things were like way back when. Were we much more innocent back when Carrie was made? If there were things like the football team's groupie mentality, I didn't know about them. I'm sure kids were having just as much sex as they are now, but were these contests going on? Maybe so. In any case, if there's nothing else on have fun with this, but don't be surprised if you find it dull and listless.
Movie Review: The Joys and HORROR of the High School Experience
Summary: 5 Stars
I wasn't expecting much from Katt Shea's 1999 "Carrie" sequel "The Rage: Carrie 2." Most sequels pale in comparison to the original film. Take for instance "Friday the 13th Part III" or "V;" both films are worth catching for various reasons, but their goofy elements make them essentially throw-away flicks. This is not the case with "The Rage." "The Rage" is a serious high school drama that includes the sub-theme of telekinesis and ends in utter, tragic horror.
The basic plot is the same as Stephen King's original, albeit with a stronger person as the title character. Hence, "The Rage" could be viewed as a modern remake as much as a sequel. In fact, it's not even necessary to see the original to appreciate it.
THE PLOT: A social outcast in high school slowly becomes aware that she has telekinetic abilities. These powers are ultimately unleashed with lethal fury when the popular kids pull a meanspirited prank on her.
WHAT WORKS: First of all, I'm glad "The Rage" doesn't have the creepy Pharisaical mother like in the original. This is one aspect that I couldn't stand about "Carrie." It (sort of) gave the impression that anyone who takes the teachings of Christianity seriously will become a warped, hideous, deathly, abusive killjoy like Carrie's mother. Actually, although there are indeed modern-day Pharisees in Christendom, nothing could be further from the truth. Authentic Christianity gives true liberty, life and joy, not the opposite (see, for example, John 8:31-32, John 10:10 and 1 Peter 1:8). Don't take me wrong here, I'm not preachin' too you.
Emily Bergl well plays Carrie's half-sister Rachel. She's an outcast like Carrie but she's stronger, more confident and doesn't have a dream to fit in with the popular kids. One of the film's themes is: Does love really exist? Rachel says she doesn't believe in love. Her mother's in a mental institution. She's a foster child and her foster parents clearly only have her for the extra money, not because they love her.
Any teenager or adult can readily relate to the situations or issues addressed in the film:
- The common cliques: the "popular" crowd, oversexed jocks, snooty cheerleaders, rich kids and their parents, nerds, outcasts, etc.
- Pre-mature sexual experience and the resulting emotional turmoil.
- Suicide.
- First love, true love.
- Being attracted to or dating someone outside your social stratum.
- Football, players, fandom and hardcore coaching antics.
- Friendship, rivalry, fights.
- Partying.
"The Rage" successfully brings to life all these joys and horrors of the high school experience.
One interesting aspect of the film is the character of Jesse, played by Jason London. The story shows that Jesse truly loves Rachel. What is it about Rachel that attracts him? It's certainly not that she's conventionally beautiful like his ex-girlfriend, although she's definitely not ugly either. Perhaps Jesse sees the superficiality and conformity of the spoiled "popular kids" clique and is naturally attracted to someone more humble, loving and genuine, like Rachel. Also observe that Jesse isn't a conformist, even though he's technically part of the popular kids clique: Because of his love for a social outcast he fearlessly stands up to the most popular (arrogant) jock; everyone on the team gets his head shaved except Jesse, etc.
It's interesting to note that, although Rachel is portrayed as a misfit that likes Marilyn Manson (see the poster on her bedroom wall), she's definitely not a rebellious, disrespectful teenager. Note that she never "answers back" her loveless foster 'father.' Note that she works, isn't promiscuous and isn't a party monger.
Another positive is that "The Rage" is clearly respectful of the film it stems from and its fans. It even brings back the lone survivor of the original, Sue Snell (Amy Irving), 23 years later, as a school counselor who had spent time in a mental institution to recover from the original tragedy. Tie-ins are a must for true sequels.
Also, during the closing credits you'll hear the song "Crazy Little Voices" by the Egyptian band Ra. The DVD is worth owning just for this outstanding song. Ra play a unique, eccentric style of metal, sort of along the lines of System of a Down. The song is not available on their proper albums, but it is available on the "The Rage" soundtrack cd or you can hear it on youtube.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: I personally feel Jesse and Rachel make love too prematurely (I think on their third date). However, this can be overlooked on the grounds that their sexual union is linked to the end-plot and that real-time has to be condensed into an hour and 45 minute film.
"The Rage" doesn't include the horrific pig's blood of the original (how could one possibly ever forget that horrifying image of Carrie?), nor does it include the death-of-a-dream angle. But I'm glad it doesn't. This is properly ANOTHER take on the same basic story. There should be differences and nuances.
FINAL ANALYSIS: As usual there are people who hate "The Rage" simply because it's a sequel/remake. I encourage you to be openminded and allow yourself to enjoy a different take on the same basic plot. (Some people see way too many films to the point that it's almost like they're unable to simply enjoy a good picture). Both films have their strengths. In some ways "The Rage" is better than "Carrie."
This film was a pleasant surprise for me. It's definitely not a weak or campy sequal/remake; rather it's a strong late-90s update. It effectively showcases the joys and horrors of the high school years. Depending on your tastes it's a 4 or 5 Star film. I officially rate it 4.5 Stars. And even if you don't like it for whatever reason it would be ridiculous to rate it less than 3 Stars. It's simply too well made of a picture -- cast, acting, locations (Dallas & Charlotte, North Carolina), story, etc. Enjoy.