Good start, but then it gets ruined

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Satan's School for Girls (2000) * 1/2 (out of 4) Bland made-for-TV remake of the 1973 movie has Shannen Doherty playing Beth Hammersmith, a woman who checks herself into a college soon after her sister commits suicide. Beth doesn't believe her sister would kill herself so she goes to her old school to try and see if anything was going on and sure enough Satan has some evil deeds. The original 1973 movie really wasn't all that good so a remake could have fixed some of the problems but that doesn't happen here and what we're left with is something that makes the original look a lot better than it actually is. Very little in regards to the story has been changed here and while the setting has been updated that's pretty much it. If you've seen the original movie then you're going to see all the twists here coming a mile away and this includes everything at the end of the film. The biggest problem this time out is that it's one of those made-for-TV movies that try to come off "cool" instead of good. I say that because there's no question this movie was trying to appeal to teenage girls and since I'm not one perhaps some might feel I have no business judging the film. I personally don't buy into that and it's really not my fault that the filmmakers thought it would be better to appeal to one group and not to everyone and try to deliver an actual good movie. There's no atmosphere to be found here, the scares are non-existent and the CGI effects are some of the worst you're going to see. Doherty doesn't come off too well as she sleepwalks through the role and none of the supporting players leap off the screen with the exception of Taraji P. Henson. Kate Jackson, who appeared in the original, has a cameo here. SATAN'S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS features annoying people doing annoying things and the movies just not good enough to sit through all of that.

This updated version is overall predictable but otherwise excellent and suspenseful. However, a few "plot holes" and unanswered questions remain in my memory. For instance, how and to what extent did the character Lisa Bagley fit in with The Five? What was her relationship to the cult? Was she being used as a front to lure Karen/Beth to the group? By the climax of the movie it was obvious that Lisa and her friends were not directly involved with The Five, yet Lisa was killed by them. As far as the film editing was concerned, the practice of using slow motion to emphasize many key scenes was overused, as was the annoying "crow calls" and overhead views of Karen/Beth while she was being observed by some of the shapeshifters.Both Shannen Doherty and Julie Benz delivered standout performances, as did Kate Jackson. I found the character Paige(the black girl) very annoying. Her forceful and heated delivery of her lines contributed nothing to the film and would have been better left out. Jenny Hammersmith was also repulsive and in terms of looks and wardrobe truly needed a major workover.

This movie was in Sweden 3 times 2001 an 2002. I don't think it was good. First, the whole "The Five" story was totally screwed. The acters were so bad, and the end was the most stupid ever. Not even the very good actress Shannen Doherty could save this pointless thriller...

What a great movie! For once, a tv movie that doesn't pretend to be any more than it is: light-hearted entertainment. I felt that the actor's and actress's portrayals of their characters were right on. They all knew the movie was just meant to be in fun, and it looked as though they honestly enjoyed themselves while making the film.Aside- I would consider this to be the second in the Everyone Wants To Be Shannon Doherty series of movies (The first was the often rerun on VH1 flick Friends Till The End).