The Spell (1977) on Netflix
Rita Matchett, fifteen, is teased for her weight at school and criticized at home by her father and sister. Her mother Marion tries to keep the peace as accidents strike the family.
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- Netflix2.9/5
- IMDb5.7/101,508 votes
- Rotten TomatoesNot available
Trailer
Plot summary
The Matchetts are a wealthy family, but Rita, fifteen and shy, is picked on at school because of her weight, and at home her father Glenn and her younger sister Kristina criticize her looks. In gym class her classmates tease her and she tries to defend herself; during rope climbing Rita struggles while the snooty Jackie Segall shows off at the top, and Rita's stare fixes on Jackie, who falls. Marion, the girls' mother, is upset by the way Rita is treated and by the rivalry between her daughters; she becomes furious when Rita's attitude changes and more worried when Rita chants after an argument.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about The Spell (1977)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Writer Brian Taggert developed the script and took it to Columbia Pictures, intending a theatrical release, but during pre-production Brian De Palma's Carrie became acclaimed and widely successful, so The Spell was converted into a teleplay for a network television Movie of the Week.
- After Brian De Palma's Carrie made telekinesis popular, many films tried to repeat its theme with little success, and The Spell was the first to do so; its script was claimed to be written before Stephen King's 1974 novel, yet it shares the bullying opening, family issues and telekinetic revenge.
- Writer Brian Taggert claimed he completed his script for The Spell while Stephen King was writing Carrie; both films open with the heroine being teased and picked on by her classmates.
