The Spell – 1977
Director
Lee Philips

Writer
Brian Taggert

Cast
Lee Grant
Susan Myers
Lelia Goldoni

Review by Wayne Malin

Ripoff of “Carrie”,

An overweight plain high school girl (Susan Myers) is tormented daily by her peers. She acquires powers that allow her to destroy (or kill) her enemies.

But she’s getting out of control. Can her mother (Lee Grant) stop her?

This was basically a TV remake of “Carrie”. “Carrie” was R rated so most teenagers (like me) couldn’t get in to see it. This was quickly made (it shows) and put on TV–it was a HUGE hit. For what it is, it’s not bad.

Grant and Myers especially are good and it’s pretty well-written. The deaths or “accidents” are pretty tame (compared to “Carrie”) but there IS a show-stopper near the end where one woman seems to decompose (or something) in seconds. For 1977 TV it was pretty graphic. It all leads to a showdown which (when you think about it) is pretty silly.

Still this was good and I give it an 8. Anybody know how to see this? Like other 1970s movies it’s disappeared!