The Spell (1977) - TV Carrie

On the surface, it’s easy to see why 'The Spell' - 'Carrie' was a massive success just a year before at the Box Office, so the idea of a telekinetic teenage girl dealing with bullying was suddenly marketable. Because of that, this TV movie kind of starts off as little more than a cheap knockoff.  But even though the set-up is familiar, 'The Spell' actually goes in its own direction and manages to work in a few clever twists that give it some identity beyond being a "Carrie clone."

The story follows an overweight, unpopular high school girl who discovers she has psychic powers. Unlike 'Carrie' though, the focus here leans more on the whole family, rather than the girl's struggles alone.  This is where it does feel more like a TV soap opera/movie in the household. The pacing is slow at times and the TV-movie budget shows, but there’s enough intrigue to carry it through to a satisfying ending.

It's no classic and, if you have 'Carrie' in your DVD collection, you're probably better off just watching that, but even though this one is far from a classic, 'The Spell' is an interesting curiosity from the late ’70s supernatural boom. If you’re willing to lower your expectations and enjoy it on its own terms, it’s worth a watch.  Just.

5/10