Tamara (2005)

Witch Zombie

RELEASED IN 2005-2006 and directed by Jeremy Haft, "Tamara” is a Canadian production about an unpopular girl (Jenna Dewan Tatum) at a Winnipeg high school who is harassed by her peers and inadvertently buys the farm in a malevolent prank. Through the dark power of witchcraft, however, she returns as a wannabe seductress to enact revenge. Matthew Marsden and Claudette Mink play a married teacher and administrator at the school.

“Tarmara” contains elements of “Carrie” (1976), “The Rage: Carrie 2” (1998), “The House on Sorority Row” (1983) (which was remade as “Sorority Row” in 2009), “The Craft” (1996) and “The Faculty” (1998). Yet it mixes its own brew and, surprisingly, has a few original aspects, along with respectable gore, if that’s your thang. The movie influenced future flicks like “I’ll Always Know what you did Last Summer” (2006) and, especially, “Jennifer’s Body” (2009). If you like these kinds of films, you’ll like this one.

There are some awkward or un-compelling moments in the filmmaking. With just a few key tweaks this could’ve been great in the manner of “The Rage: Carrie 2.” Still, it’s good enough and, like I said, has some innovative parts. Marsden and Mink are strong as the adult protagonists. The women are cute (e.g. Katie Stuart as winsome Chloe) but, with the exception of Mink, they look like they’re suffering mild anorexia. Please, ladies, eat some food!

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour, 38 minutes and was shot in Winnipeg, Manitoba. WRITER: Jeffrey Reddick.

GRADE: B/B-