The Spell (1977)

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

I saw this on Netflix streaming movies because I wanted to see Helen Hunt in an early role. Here she is probably 13 during filming, an just a few years before "Quarterback Princess" where she played quarterback on a boys high school team in Oregon.In this movie Lee Grant is the mom, Marilyn Matchett . Her older daughter is slightly chubby Susan Myers as Rita, who gets teased mercilessly by the other girls at school. It upsets her enough that she sees a mystic to do something about it. The main girl falls in gym class and breaks her neck. Helen Hunt is 13-ish younger sister Kristina. She also does not get along with the sister, who finds that she can cast spells also. So one day when Kristina is swimming at a school meet, almost drowns from a spell. Dad has to jump in the water to save her. This is definitely B-movie material, with cheezy background music to match. But it is fun to see a very young Helen Hunt, today on the verge of 50.SPOILERS: The movie ends with a scene where Rita and her mother are having a deep disagreement, and as Rita tries to use her powers on mom, we learn (and see) that mom also has those powers. In the end it is a "draw" and mom and daughter embrace as the movie ends.

I just watched it on THIS channel! I thought it was very good for its time and for TV. It is not comparable to a movie like Carrie. It has same concept, but not the same in comparison as for them being on movie and other on TV. TV is going to be no more than TV14. Carrie was made for theaters and video. All these people saying its a rip off of Carrie, how lame is that. I already explained the difference, now get off calling movies crap when they aren't the same. This site is not to just come here and put movies down because they did not like it. It is to review it. I see so many people come on here and they just put movies down. I look at their profiles and that is all they do too. Just because this movie had it as the girl and mother had special power to control things with their minds does not mean it is a Carrie rip off. I see so many slasher movies, but no one calls those after other slashers rip offs of other slashers. So learn to enjoy movies. Just because you are bored of watching does not mean other people will be. I leave the choice for people to choose whether they want to watch it, and not come in here say I hate it, and say it in a certain way to persuade others not to see it. Enjoy this movie. I thought it was fine for TV.

I was in-between my junior and senior years of high school. And, while I had just turned eighteen that spring, it was not in time to catch CARRIE at my hometown monoplex (as it might be called, today). So, I had to settle for this made-for-TV clone.And, I loved it!!!The scene where that millionaire's wife burns up, from the inside out, was genuinely scary to me. Especially, when you consider the stricter standards for graphic tele-violence, at that time.I also loved the climactic duel between Rita and her mother. Where we learn that Lee Grant's character has always had the same power!But, the main reason I still love it to this day? Doney Oatman and all those other leotard-wearing lovelies from the opening scene were so hot, I had a dream about them, later that same night!!

This is similiar to Carrie but I actually thought it was better. It's tough for me to remember because I saw it when I was so young.The premise is similar to Carrie, high school girl develops powers and uses thos powers to make things happen. That said, it varies from Carrie a little though I don't want to say to much or I'll give it away.This is sort of "Carrie" meets "The Craft". The people who like that type of movie will like this. I don't know how one canm even see this, it is from quite awhile ago and I have been eager to find info on it for years-thanks IMBD!!But if you like movies like this and can find it-watch it. It's less brutal then Carrie(if I;m remembering right-it HAS been awhile!). And I think some may like it just as much as Carrie.