Blyss's Movie Review for:

Main Cast of Characters:

Rose McGowan...........Debbie Strand

Peg Shirley.........Fiona Long

Alex McArthur..........Peter Rinaldi

Krissy Carlson.........Meeghan Wright

J.C. Brandy..........Janie Magray

Ryan James Bittle...........Greg Straffer

Julia Nickson-Soul...........Anna Nakashi

Sherrie Rose...........Marilyn

1998. Rated: R. Genre: Thriller; Horror; 90 minutes

A wolf in sheep's clothing...

Debbie Strand has had a hard life. Her parents were killed in a fire and she was the only one that got out. However, the police don't see it that way and they suspect Debbie in arson. She goes to live with her "religious freak" grandmother who is a bit over the top. When she asks for new clothes, her grandmother makes her wear clothes from the 70's to school. She also tells her she is to clean the attic and she wants it finished by supper of the first day of her new school. Debbie gets picked on by school jock jerk Greg and his friends and Peter Renalte, the creative writing teacher comes to her aid. She falls for him immediately upon sight. Another student Todd challenges Peter to a game after school and Debbie and Peter kiss-up Meeghan come to see them. Meeghan acts jealous of Debbie's attention for Peter. That evening Debbie and her new friend Janie "go shopping" and shoplift some clothes so Debbie doesn't have to wear those horrible clothes from her grandmother anymore. Debbie comes in late and the grandmother chews her out. Debbie curses and grandmother slaps her in face. The next day Peter announces that he is having a garage sale at his house that weekend and both Debbie and Meeghan volunteer. Meeghan tells Debbie after class not to show up at the garage sale and Debbie vows to herself that she will make sure Meeghan never makes it. Meanwhile, the FBI is investigating Debbie in the fire and wanting to talk to her but grandmother won't allow it. All the while, Debbie is planning other murders and committing them. Will the police catch her in time? Can anyone really stop a "devil in the flesh"?

Yet another great film starring Rose McGowan, one of my favorite actresses. McGowan once again plays the "bad girl" so well. The only person I enjoyed her going after was Meeghan. Meeghan was the typical girl in high school that all the guys wanted and made girls who did not look as good as her feel like crap. I was glad she didn't kill her but she did get what she deserved. I understand Debbie's obsession with teachers because all of us have had nice-looking teachers at one time or another, haven't we? I once had a gorgeous Spanish teacher while I was attending USM and I couldn't take my eyes off of him while I was in class! But I did not follow him around campus and I definitely did not go to his home. Debbie went a little too far in that respect. However, Peter did bring some of it on himself. First of all, he had a garage sale at his house and invited his students to help at this non-school function. He should have had at least one male student there also if he was going to invite students. Secondly, the phone rang while they were cleaning up and he allowed Debbie to get the phone and gave her the chance to erase the message from his girlfriend. As if that was not bad enough, he also told her where his spare key was and did not place it somewhere else after she had found it, allowing her to later come into his house. If he had not been so careless, some of the nonsense could have been avoided. The movie was good but I think the script was a little weakly written. I don't think a teacher would have acted so carelessly with his students such as Peter did. At least, I have never met one like him.

I rate this film: 6

Blyss