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300 years ago they burned a witch at the stake, now the executioners' descendants fear that she is back. This 1998 TV movie is a tale of small town weirdoes. LA gal Sarah (Sarah Chalke - one of the two Becky's on 'Roseanne') moves to Pinecrest and soon is accused of being the reincarnation of executed witch Sarah Lancaster. Sarah pleads her innocence but her case isn't helped by the fact that a cloaked and masked nutter with Wolverine-like claws is stalking the self-described descendants club.
This is based on the novel 'Gallows Hill' by Lois Duncan which I've never read, she also wrote 'I Know What you did last summer' which bears no resemblance to the film but does bear a striking resemblance to the book 'Chain Letter' by Christopher Pike. She also wrote the excellent 'Daughters of Eve'.
Anyway this TV movie is fairly good. One of Sarah's nemesis' is nasty bitchy Kira (Soleil Moon-Frye - best known for being 'Punky Brewster') who is 'Heathers' like in her crazed evil also Carly Pope (the horrible Sam on 'Popular') has a one-scene cameo as one of Kira's lackey's and best of all - she has no lines! Yay!
Is Sarah a witch or isn't she? Well she has an Oji board and does spells with candles, which her mom seems to have no problems with. Also at school she demonstrates several neat tricks, that is either mystic mojo or a simple trick. But her mystic inclinations raise the ire of the townsfolk and especially one moronic jock who throws Sarah into the school swimming pool to re-enact the 'float or drown' witch test except the moron doesn't know which result equals a witch.
Anyway someone dies and many red herrings are scattered. The stalker is revealed and who it is, is a surprise. Many pop-culture references are made. Namely 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' in a scene where Sarah's snotty classmates hang garlic on her locker and she screams at them for being morons and that garlic is for vampires not witches.
As events hurtle toward the climax, the crazed teens abduct Sarah and decide to burn her at the stake! The ending is very neat, as a hidden agenda is revealed which was actually not that hidden at all if you consider the characters seemingly odd actions.
A nice mystery that is enjoyable to watch. Recommended most highly.
P-Con VI March 27th/28th/29th 2009
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