TAMARA

Director: Jeremy Haft
Stars: Jenna Dewan, Katie Stuart, Chad Faust, Matthew Marsden
Year: 2005
Rating: R

At first glance this tale of the class joke, coming back to exact her revenge against the fellow high school students who wronged her, might come off as some cheap Carrie knock-off. Happily, it's a heck of a lot more.

Jenna Dewan (who drank WAY too much milk for her own good in The Grudge 2) stars as Tamara, a dowdy and backward high school student with all cards stacked against her. For one, her mother is dead and she lives with a skanky father who gets off on looking at and touching her. Secondly, she's in love with her English teacher (dreamboat Matthew Marsden), who in turn is deeply in love with his wife. And last - but certainly not least, 'cause it's what sets the plot in motion - Tamara has just written a brilliant article about the use of steroids in her school ... which her English teacher, Mr. Natolly (Marsden) gets published in the school paper. This sparks an investigation into the school that gets the biggest jock thrown off the football team ... and into a mindset that has him promising revenge on Tamara.

The revenge goes horribly awry, killing Tamara, and those responsible (directly or indirectly) end up burying her out in the woods, vowing to cover up the crime. A couple of the teens have to be blackmailed to keep their mouths shut, including true hottie Chloe (Katie Stuart), who is maybe Tamara's only friend in school. She had no idea the party she was attending with her boyfirend (true hottie-of-the-male-variety Chad Faust, of "The 4400" fame) included the practical joke on Tamara, and has a real problem being forced to keep her mouth shut by the jock and his cronies.

Turns out this is only the beginning of problem, though, when a totally souped-up Tamara shows up for class the next day - not only looking well, but looking like the cover of an issue of FHM magazine. Seems one thing the other teens don't know is that Tamara's mom was a witch - and Tamara inherited some tricks (along with a spellbook) from her. Tamara's come back to get revenge on those who killed her ... and she does so, in a fairly gory manner when possible, as one by one they fall - and Chloe tries her damnedest to find a way to stop her.

This is actually a very cool horror flick. Jenna Dewan is perfect as Tamara - whether playing vulnerable nerd or sultry seductress - and the rest of the cast keep up with her well. The film is, at time, horrific, gory, suspenseful, and erotic. Well-written and slickly produced, you think this is just another teen horror flick going in ... but it actually ends up, surprisingly, being much better than expected. The ending (which, indeed, sets things up for a sequel) is not only a true surprise - it actually fits perfectly into the plot of the movie, and is one reason I enjoyed the film. Only for suspense/horror fans, probably ... but if you like that kind of film, this one's a surprising treat. *** - Reel Cool