I can't imagine there's any female horror fan who has not at one time longed for the powers of Carrie White, the telekinetic purveyor of vengeful bloodshed from the Stephen King novel and subsequent 1976 film adaptation. Mercilessly tormented by her peers, the shy, awkward protagonist sought revenge in the form of total annihilation; a feat made possible by the psychic fury unleashed by the onset of her menstrual cycle. There's something horribly satisfying in watching the gruesome results of Carrie's actions. She's violent, she's animalistic, but she's also an intensely sympathetic character, especially one for any young woman struggling not only with the derision of her peers, but with the strangeness of her own body. The "pig's blood" scene of the first Carrie is legendary for a reason; until Buffy the Vampire Slayer came along 21 years later with similar metaphorical themes, it was the most accurate and stunning depiction of teenage cruelty in a genre picture.
Of course, there was one survivor of Carrie's rage at the prom, and in the age of H20, that means one thing: sequel! The survivor, Sue Snell (who, luck would have it, was played by Amy Irving -- guess Steve's running late on the alimony checks) is now a guidance counselor at the high school attended by the new "Carrie", whose name of Rachel comes as the first indication of how gratuitous and unnecessary this sequel really is. Despite the name change, Rachel (Emily Bergl) is no better off than her predecessor; not only is she also telekinetic, but she also attends a high school completely saturated with talent-challenged teenage actors (to use the term loosely), including a near-comatose Jason London and a tri-monikered Home Improvement boy. And people wonder why she gets homicidal.
The first half of this very uneven movie contains some gutsy and even poignant moments; unlike pseudo-nerds a la She's All That, dowdy and outspoken Rachel actually fits the part, and Bergl plays her with a skill far outweighing her material. The gang of jocks are realistically cruel, and that's why it's so encouraging to watch Bergl's wonderful performance as a tough, sensitive and knowing teenage girl who refuses to sink to their level -- that is, until about halfway through, when the film pulls an abrupt Pygmalion. Despite the monstrous actions of her jock tormentors (one of which drove her best friend to suicide), it now appears that Rachel actually wants to be a part of this repugnant clique, that deep down inside, she's as reverent of their status and celebratory of their cruelty as they are.
This is nothing new in movie history -- including the original Carrie -- but in The Rage it comes off as downright depressing. Rachel is actually much more assured and likable than Carrie, which is why the fact that not even this bright, unconventional girl can be confident in her own self-worth is so frustrating. Anyone who winced at Ally Sheedy's transformation at the end of The Breakfast Club is not going to be thrilled with what transpires here. While the original Carrie's betrayal and humiliation were entirely believable, here it is jaw dropping to see Rachel so easily duped. As the film plods to its inevitable bloody conclusion, even the hopes of the violent death of Irving and Home Improvement boy give no solace. The real spirit of the protagonist died halfway through. Add to this "flashback" clips of the original movie that only reiterate the fact that its successor is far from worthy, and Carrie II winds up as not the out-and-out disaster it could have been but something worse: a mishmash of wasted opportunities and questionable intentions. Save Bergl's excellent performance, the only Rage expressed here is likely to be that of the audience.
DROOL FACTOR: Three words: Home Improvement alumnus. Two words: London twin. And one, defining sentiment: EWWWW!
GROSS-OUT FACTOR: The very audacity of this sequel speaks volumes to this category, but the true gore and grue don't come to the end of the flick, and then they arrive big-time. And I can't deny that more than a few of the deaths are welcome.
STRONG CHICK FACTOR: Sorely lacking in the form of missed potential. The true heroine of the film is Emily Bergl, a very talented actress who far surpasses her material. Director Katt Shea's attempt to make sense of this nonsense also merits props.
The Rage: Carrie 2 will be available on home video July 20. Images used in this article are from the official Carrie 2 site.
-- Sarah Kendzior
