The Rage: Carrie 2 does not attempt to be as comprehensive; In fact, it's when it cops from its predecessor that it weakens and falls in danger of derivativeness. As a horror film, The Rage doesn't work that well. There are few scares, and the film provides little buildup to a finale that plays out like a more gratuitous rehash of the original film's climax.

But I found that The Rage gave me cause to not care less--there are enough movies out there that just work at being horrifying, and this film has more in mind. The Rage works exceedingly well on two other levels. Aided by a good cast, including the talented Jason London and the flat-out amazing Emily Bergl, this film is a surprisingly tender and realistic take on issues we face all too often in life. Fitting in, for one. Being true to ourselves. Self-doubt. Fear of betrayal. I was wonderfully surprised by how much affection I had for the characters.

The second level on which The Rage excels is a bit more elusive. During the course of the film, outcast Rachel slowly lowers her guard to seemingly nice Jesse, softly testing him, trying to sense his intentions. What eventually happens to her is in the movie as a means of setting up the fiery finale, of course. However, the kind of betrayal Rachel endures is truly evocative of the deep-seated anxiety with which women must deal for their entire lives. The Rage forcefully summons society's horrifying double-standard in which women who want to express their love outside accepted bounds are objects of ridicule not only by men but also by other women. The real horror in The Rage has nothing to do with fire, or blood, or the supernatural. It has everything to do with destroyed trust, diseased loyalty, and a destructive sense of superiority.