Stephen King's books are frequently adapted into successful movies, but Hollywood often expands on the worlds King has created with original sequels that are bizarre or poorly written. One of the worst examples are the "Children of the Corn" movies, which mushroomed from an adaptation of King's single short story into a hackneyed 11-film saga. Likewise, films such as "Return to Salem's Lot" and "Pet Sematary" use Stephen King's name and established concepts to lure audiences in, but they pale in comparison to his prolific originals.
One of the exceptions to the rule is "The Rage: Carrie 2." Initially called "The Curse," Rafael Moreu's screenplay had nothing to do with Stephen King's masterful debut, but then shoehorned elements of Carrie White lore into the storyline (via Fangoria). The protagonist, Rachel Lang, is Carrie's secret half-sister and shares her telekinetic abilities. However, she is not as much of a social pariah as Carrie White,...
One of the exceptions to the rule is "The Rage: Carrie 2." Initially called "The Curse," Rafael Moreu's screenplay had nothing to do with Stephen King's masterful debut, but then shoehorned elements of Carrie White lore into the storyline (via Fangoria). The protagonist, Rachel Lang, is Carrie's secret half-sister and shares her telekinetic abilities. However, she is not as much of a social pariah as Carrie White,...
- 3/2/2024
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
Once upon a time, a simpler time, when kids had attention spans that lasted longer then a thirty second tik-tok video and people drove their cars while paying attention to the road and not with their heads down scrolling through instagram videos, a world before everything we could ever want or need to know was right in our pocket. For some of you, that world sounds like ancient times, but for those of us of a certain age, that world really wasn’t so long ago. Allow me to take you back to the year 1995 when a new-ish thing called the Internet was becoming more mainstream (here would be a good spot to drop in that Katie Couric/ Bryant Gumble clip “What is the internet?”) It was a time when you would have to ask your parents to not use the phone for twenty minutes so you could get online...
- 5/18/2023
- by Brad Hamerly
- JoBlo.com
Even in 1995, it was easy to snicker at Iain Softley's computer-centric cyber-thriller "Hackers." Firstly, because computer technology is so complex, and develops so quickly, any mention of modern cyber-gear would definitely be dated only a year later. Actual computer experts saw right through Softley's and screenwriter Rafael Moreu's attempts at being cutting edge.
Additionally, Softley was presented with an interesting problem. While computer hackers occupied an exciting new technological subculture in 1995, people sitting at keyboards weren't very cinematically dynamic. Softley solved this problem by turning computer usage into something a little more abstract, using glowing animations, swirling cameras, and projecting images onto his actors' faces to make his film visually interesting.
Softley also had to more or less create his own version of hacker culture from the ground up. He dressed his teen protagonists in complex neo-punk garb and invented their own patois. He assembled a glorious three-volume...
Additionally, Softley was presented with an interesting problem. While computer hackers occupied an exciting new technological subculture in 1995, people sitting at keyboards weren't very cinematically dynamic. Softley solved this problem by turning computer usage into something a little more abstract, using glowing animations, swirling cameras, and projecting images onto his actors' faces to make his film visually interesting.
Softley also had to more or less create his own version of hacker culture from the ground up. He dressed his teen protagonists in complex neo-punk garb and invented their own patois. He assembled a glorious three-volume...
- 1/16/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
“Hackers” is a crime film that was released in 1995 but has since achieved cult status. This film was written by Rafael Moreu and directed by Iain Softley. It is about a group of high school students who become hackers as part of a corporate extortion conspiracy. Although the film was not commercially successful, it helped to launch the careers of many of those who starred in this movie. If you have ever watched ‘Hackers’, you might have wondered what has happened to those who starred in the film. Here is what some of the stars of ‘Hackers’ are up
What the Cast from the Movie “Hackers” is Up to Today...
What the Cast from the Movie “Hackers” is Up to Today...
- 6/9/2018
- by Nat Berman
- TVovermind.com
Brian De Palma, Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, John Travolta, William Katt and Stephen King are nowhere to be found. And with the exception of a near-catatonic Amy Irving, reprising her Sue Snell character, and some copycat plotting, "The Rage: Carrie 2" has virtually nothing in common with its 1976 forerunner.
Heck, there isn't even anybody named Carrie here, save for some cheesy flashbacks composed of the sow's blood-soaked De Palma footage.
Still, that hasn't stopped Paul Monash, the original's producer, from trying to hop aboard the big high school/horror bandwagon. But the result is a hamfisted clunker that is certain to induce more guffaws than goose bumps.
Given the above plus the lack of name leads and the current glut of teen product ("Cruel Intentions", "She's All That"), very few will likely get "Carrie-d" away.
Here's the set-up:
Rachel (Emily Bergl) is your average unpopular high school student with an institutionalized mother, nasty foster parents and a best friend who commits suicide. Oh, and she has a habit of flying into a telekinetic tizzy every time she gets a little upset.
As it turns out, the dad Rachel never met also happened to father one Carrie White and we all know what happened to her. And just in case we don't, they've thrown in a bunch of lame flashbacks to remind us.
Things seem to improve somewhat when she meets nice guy Jessie (Jason London), but it turns out he's an unwitting part of an elaborate school hoax to humiliate Rachel. Of course, they'll all pay a dear price for messing with her mind.
Newcomer Bergl is actually quite good in the role, grounding her character in a believability that somehow manages to defy screenwriter Rafael Moreu's ("Hackers") ultra-dumb dialogue.
The rest of the cast isn't so lucky, particularly Irving as Carrie's former schoolmate-turned-guidance counselor who unsuccessfully attempts to avert imminent disaster. For some mysterious reason, her performance is given in what appears to be a hypnotic trance.
Perhaps director Katt Shea ("Poison Ivy") could provide some explanation. While the picture clearly has some seriously arty aspirations, the plodding pace makes for mind-numbingly dull viewing. There's more kinetic energy in an episode of "Charmed".
Once again, as with the original, the special effects budget is saved up for the big vengeance finale. And while some of the gross-out elements (with decent digital effects created by Kleiser-Walczak Construction Co. and special makeup effects by Thomas R. Burman & Bari Dreiband-Burman) finally deliver, it ultimately commits the cardinal sin of supernatural thrillers: This "Carrie"'s not scary.
THE RAGE: CARRIE 2
MGM
United Artists Pictures presents
A Red Bank Films production
Director: Katt Shea
Screenwriter: Rafael Moreu
Producer: Paul Monash
Executive producer: Patrick Palmer
Director of photography: Donald M. Morgan
Production designer: Peter Jamison
Editor: Richard Nord
Costume designer: Theoni V. Aldredge
Music: Danny B. Harvey
Casting: Gretchen Rennell Court
Color/stereo
Cast:
Rachel: Emily Bergl
Jessie: Jason London
Sue Snell: Amy Irving
Mark: Dylan Bruno
Barbara: J. Smith-Cameron
Brad: Justin Urich
Running time -- 104 minutes
MPAA Rating: R...
Heck, there isn't even anybody named Carrie here, save for some cheesy flashbacks composed of the sow's blood-soaked De Palma footage.
Still, that hasn't stopped Paul Monash, the original's producer, from trying to hop aboard the big high school/horror bandwagon. But the result is a hamfisted clunker that is certain to induce more guffaws than goose bumps.
Given the above plus the lack of name leads and the current glut of teen product ("Cruel Intentions", "She's All That"), very few will likely get "Carrie-d" away.
Here's the set-up:
Rachel (Emily Bergl) is your average unpopular high school student with an institutionalized mother, nasty foster parents and a best friend who commits suicide. Oh, and she has a habit of flying into a telekinetic tizzy every time she gets a little upset.
As it turns out, the dad Rachel never met also happened to father one Carrie White and we all know what happened to her. And just in case we don't, they've thrown in a bunch of lame flashbacks to remind us.
Things seem to improve somewhat when she meets nice guy Jessie (Jason London), but it turns out he's an unwitting part of an elaborate school hoax to humiliate Rachel. Of course, they'll all pay a dear price for messing with her mind.
Newcomer Bergl is actually quite good in the role, grounding her character in a believability that somehow manages to defy screenwriter Rafael Moreu's ("Hackers") ultra-dumb dialogue.
The rest of the cast isn't so lucky, particularly Irving as Carrie's former schoolmate-turned-guidance counselor who unsuccessfully attempts to avert imminent disaster. For some mysterious reason, her performance is given in what appears to be a hypnotic trance.
Perhaps director Katt Shea ("Poison Ivy") could provide some explanation. While the picture clearly has some seriously arty aspirations, the plodding pace makes for mind-numbingly dull viewing. There's more kinetic energy in an episode of "Charmed".
Once again, as with the original, the special effects budget is saved up for the big vengeance finale. And while some of the gross-out elements (with decent digital effects created by Kleiser-Walczak Construction Co. and special makeup effects by Thomas R. Burman & Bari Dreiband-Burman) finally deliver, it ultimately commits the cardinal sin of supernatural thrillers: This "Carrie"'s not scary.
THE RAGE: CARRIE 2
MGM
United Artists Pictures presents
A Red Bank Films production
Director: Katt Shea
Screenwriter: Rafael Moreu
Producer: Paul Monash
Executive producer: Patrick Palmer
Director of photography: Donald M. Morgan
Production designer: Peter Jamison
Editor: Richard Nord
Costume designer: Theoni V. Aldredge
Music: Danny B. Harvey
Casting: Gretchen Rennell Court
Color/stereo
Cast:
Rachel: Emily Bergl
Jessie: Jason London
Sue Snell: Amy Irving
Mark: Dylan Bruno
Barbara: J. Smith-Cameron
Brad: Justin Urich
Running time -- 104 minutes
MPAA Rating: R...
- 3/12/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.