By Edwin Hopkins
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HUGE

 Tamara could be described as a menagerie of horror and teen flicks rolled into one; Carrie meets The Craft encounters I Know What You Did Last Summer with a dash of Mean Girls thrown in for extra measure. This teen horror effort from director Jeremy Haft (Grizzly Mountain, The Crimson Code), premiered at 2005’s New York Horror Film Festival and as of this review, doesn’t seem to be expanding any wider than 20 theaters at
the most.

Sporting the usual teen character types, the arrogant boss, the beauty maven, the nice girl etc., Tamara begins, of course with our anti-heroine as shy and mousy. She’s picked on by everyone in school (sound familiar so far?). Especially school jocks whose futures have been stymied by a her article in the school paper on steroid use. She also happens to be a bit heavy into witchcraft and has a secret obsession for her handsome
teacher, Bill Natoly

When a small group of vengeful classmates take advantage of her crush by setting up a date with her and Natoly as a joke, Tamara ends up dead in a hotel room. She miraculously comes back to life after they bury her, shedding all her previous inhibitions as well as her potato sack dress for something more alluring, plus high heels. Her witchcraft powers have been ratcheted a few notches conveniently making her a vessel of psychological retaliation rather than physical by controlling the minds of her tormentors- the only really interesting aspect of this film.

Dewan has definitely taken a step in the right direction with a supporting role in Take the Lead. The rest of the cast, I believe also has potential to rise to the top. Tamara may not be a bona fide box office hit, but it can be a stepping stone for the young talents in it. Like every actor or actress, they just need the right part.