User Reviews

From a poor background, co-locating in a pet store with her depressed father, Mensa-grade intellect sees the beguiling Jennifer (Pelikan) given an opportunity to break free from her lower-class shackles amongst the well healed at a prestigious girl's school. But after prolonged bullying and passive subversion from the arrogant head mistress (Foch), Jennifer reveals her penchant for snakes, and her telepathic ability to command them to avenge her mistreatment.

A strong cast (Bert Convy as a sympathetic teacher, John Gavin in one of his last film roles before taking up politics) and some effective special effects are the cornerstones of this blatant "Carrie" knock-off, the parallels so shameless (particularly in the characterisations) that if you removed the snake aspect, you'd be watching an inferior remake.

Pelikan is capable and actually looks better than the material with which she's got to work, and Foch in particular is a strong, assured presence as the pompous principal, whose belief it is that only money and status can achieve worthy character. The giant snake head effects aren't bad, and you wonder how the actors feel about some giant puppet head clamping down on their skulls – not what they'd have anticipated at theatre school. But it's all about the audience, and it's cheesy and fun, so thumbs up.

Surprisingly effective little low budget shocker here that proves once again that just because a horror movie from the 1970s has a PG rating that doesn't mean it's for kids. This one has some genuinely sick material though not in the department that one might think even with the unexpected brief nudity. It's a Snake Horror ripoff of CARRIE for sure but there's something else going on here. And proof yet again that the key element to any good movie is the writing, not the budget or the stars, unless you consider Bert Convey a star. That must be him singing the opening theme song, and its just so awful you have to love it.

So CARRIE was about a misunderstood waif pushed to the edge by a bunch of stuck-up bored rich kids who torment her at school. JENNIFER is about a plucky young lady from the country who runs afoul of a boarding school's resident teenage psychopath convincingly played by Amy Johnston who literally has the whole world struck dumb by her. She's put the whammy on everyone at the private school the film is set at. Her classmates, her teachers, her boyfriend and his pack of loser buddies (one of which is former "Land Of The Lost" actor Wesley Ure, showing that he really could act after all), the pill-popping boozer headmistress, even the people who despise her hold her in a certain amount of awe. Including John Gavin playing her senator father whom I suspect knows that her daughter is completely psychotic and doesn't give half a damn.

The Snake Horror stuff -- while good enough, given the budget and PG ratings prohibition against overtly sexualized content -- takes second seat to what is actually a pretty good rendition of how a charming psychopath can insinuate themselves so well into the lives of their victims that dislodging them becomes traumatic in itself. The most horrifying scene in the film is when the maniac sets up one of her flunkie so-called friends to be date raped by her equally sociopathic boyfriend. The damndest thing is, I've heard of worse in real life. By keeping its psycho horrors in check the film is all the more frightening. Other than the snakes you could really see some of this happening, suggesting that maybe what we're seeing here were two scripts combined into one: A story about a young lady with a gift for controlling reptiles, and another about a psychopathic Barely Legal who eventually destroys the lives of everyone she comes in contact with. The latter story steals the show.

So yeah, the young lady with the past as a snake handling tongue speaking miracle girl does indeed unleash hell's fury in an amusing display of serpentine pyrotechnics that includes a couple of great ironic justice payback deaths for her tormentors. But to me the real story is about this pretty young psycho and the lengths that she will go to perpetuate the almost hypnotic hold she seems to have on her followers. Kind of makes you wonder about all those bullies and demented weirdos you used to run afoul of yourself as a younger person. I knew they were crazy all along. Nobody can be that cruel & still have a conscience. Here's a movie that shows how it works -- the Snake Horror stuff is just gravy.

6/10

Anyone who knows anything about horror will have no trouble identifying Jennifer's main influence - it is, of course, Brian De Palma's Stephen King adaptation Carrie. The two share so much in common that I can't quite believe that director Brice Mack actually got away with making this film. It's not just the central premise either, things are ripped directly from Carrie wholesale; stuff like the overbearing religious single parent, the popular clique that takes a dislike to the outcast protagonist and the sensitive member of said clique that has a bit of sympathy for the outcast. The central character is, unsurprisingly, named Jennifer. Jennifer is a scholarship student at a relatively wealthy school and as such gets picked on for not having as much money as the other girls. She takes it for a while but soon the bullying is stepped up a gear and Jennifer decides that she just can't take it anymore. Luckily for her, however, she can wield a strange power over snakes and decides to use it to get her revenge.

While the film is clearly a knockoff, it does have to be said that in its own right, it's actually a decent horror movie. Don't go into it expecting to be thrilled because it's very much of the slow burn variety, although it does manage to put forward some interesting characters. It's clear that it was shot on a low budget, however, and while the acting is largely decent; certain cast members are just terrible. Jeff Corey stands out in that respect as Jennifer's overbearing religious father. The central premise centres on snakes and as such you would expect the movie to feature a few of them; but actually they don't turn up properly until right near the end which is a bit of a shame. I'd have liked to have seen a bit more of a relationship between the lead character and the snakes. Jennifer is also not even nearly as big an outcast as Carrie was; she's just not weird enough and her reaction to the bullying even seems a bit extreme. Still, I wasn't particularly expecting anything great from this film and going in with expectations like that will ensure you wont be disappointed.

There are a lot of similarities between Carrie and Jennifer (over-religious single parent, school snobbery, pent up anger sparking supernatural revenge, and I guess even at one point toward the end having Jennifer looking remarkably similar to Margaret White at the end of Carrie). Jennifer's power involves control over snakes, whereas Carrie had control over practically everything.

Jennifer is played by Lisa Peliken, who is excellent in this. She gets a scholarship to a ritzy school, and her poor background and lack of wealth make her an easy target. She almost instantly gets on the bad side of the biggest clique in the school, led by Chris Hargensen-like Sandra. The special effects (especially a giant snake) are poor, but it is a fun, dated movie to watch.

It's Carrie!! With snakes!! Only it's complete s**t!! Yes folks, forget about school dances and buckets of pigs blood... here you have rubber vipers and hammy acting ahoy. EVERYONE is a stereotype with annoying put-on accents and awkward dialogue, while the so-called 'scary' scenes feel like something out of a bad spoof. The unfathomable truth that this was supposed to be a horror will go down as one of the great mysteries in life.

Even the twee opening song is 50 Shades Of Crap. Try listening to it without your ears imploding. Does it do anything right? Well, it has an ending. That's something... right? RIGHT? 2/10

Jennifer is a poor and hard-working student and she possesses a power over snakes,an ability to control them and communicate with them.Her father Luke is a mentally unstable religious nut.The worst of all some wealthy students led by cruel Sandra constantly harass Jennifer at school.Sandra turns many other students and teachers against Jennifer including the school's headmistress.Eventually Jennifer gets revenge on her cruel classmates with the help of her snakes.Vastly enjoyable and fun to watch "Carrie" clone with likable main character.There is no gore,but if you like your horror cheesy and entertaining you can't go wrong with "Jennifer".I'd love to have a date with such a pretty girl.7 out of 10.

This film is basically a rip off of Carrie, girl is bullied throughout the movie and then we get a climatic finish where strange powers are on full display. The problem with this trope is that you have to watch a lot of movie where the powers are not on display and there is filler to the extreme! Another movie that follows this formula is Evil Speak with Clint Howard, but that one was way creepier from what I remember. That being said, I was a kid when last I saw that movie so it may seem silly now. This one I liked the ending and aspects of it, but at times it just was a bit too far fetched.

The story has Jennifer, a nice young lady from rural country going to a private academy. Despite what is said, not all the girls dislike Jennifer, only this one senator's daughter and her clique. Her clique and the daughter are all flat chested, but hang around a girl they call fat, but to me had the best bod of the bunch as she had boobs and was not a zipper. The senator's daughter was not even all that, but she just had to taunt Jennifer and her chubby friend to a ridiculous degree so when the comeuppance occurs I was fully in Jennifer's corner.

Not sure what the deal with the school is as some of the girls seem to live there, but Jennifer lives with her father in a rundown looking pet store. I think the degree to which the head mistress protects the senator's daughter is a bit unrealistic too as sooner or later that girl was going to do something that would have brought down the academy's reputation...not sure there is any private school where the girls can just drive off with a couple of guys and go to a disco and do drugs...

So, the film had its moments and the climax was pretty cool as Jennifer displayed her powers which was not just controlling snakes, but materializing them out of thin air! However, there is so much filler, like watching the mean girls dance at a disco, Jennifer no where to be seen. I guess they did okay as this film was obviously a rush job to capitalize on the success of Carrie.

Jennifer is a poor young redheaded woman from West Virginia attending a private girl's school on a scholarship. She and her father had left their home in disgrace, when around the age of seven some snakes Jennifer had been handling in church apparently bit and killed the preacher's son. She refused to handle snakes ever since, though her father now runs a pet store and often encourages her to use her power again.

Her father is a bit of a simpleton, unable to make meals for himself without burning them, relying on his "Jenny" ever since his wife died. While he does operate the pet store, most of the time he's in a back room listening to Christian radio.

Pretty Jennifer is quite smart, though. I'm not sure if her scholarship was based on her low income or her high intelligence. She gets in trouble with a cruel clique at school. They already hated her for being different, but when she snitches on them for cheating on a mid- term exam (only after they accused her of being the ringleader when they were caught), they're literally prepared to kill her.

The main culprit is Sandra, the daughter of a Senator. The school's headmistress is quite eager to kick Jennifer out as well, preferring students with rich and powerful parents.

The swim team invites Jennifer to join them, but the movie does not make much of that plot element. One of Sandra's crew, an overweight girl, also sticks up for Jennifer occasionally, to her own detriment. Additionally, one of the teachers also wants to be Jennifer's friend.

Eventually Jennifer is pushed to the point where she does start using her power.

This was an OK movie, nothing exceptional. Some of the giant snakes, briefly glimpsed, are a bit silly. Is it a rip-off of Carrie? Well, probably. The video distributor was selling it along those lines, with a tagline on the back of the video box reading "Compared to this, 'Carrie' was an angel." The overall plot is similar: misfit child of religious fanatic is picked on at school and resorts to using psychic powers.

Beyond that, I don't know if they're too similar. Jennifer's father is a bit of a loon, and while he pulls a belt out at one point to threaten Jennifer, it's unclear whether he's ever actually delivered on the threat: he doesn't seem to be as cruel as Carrie's mother. Jennifer doesn't become filled with rage like Carrie, attacking innocent people, but acts in self-defense, only attacking those who are prepared to kill her.

Jennifer is a teenager from West Virginia who works with her Bible-quotin' papa in his pet store and attends an elite all-girl boarding school on scholarship (the rich, pampered girls call her "skag" and "hayseed"). When the leader of the popular clique gets caught cheating on a test, she blames innocent Jennifer, who defends herself but gets into trouble anyway. These kids--and the pill-popping, money-grubbing school matriarch--really have it in for Jennifer, unaware that as a child she performed in tent-revival meetings as the girl who could communicate with snakes and make them do her bidding. Screenwriter Kay Cousins Johnson, working from a story by Steve Krantz (who also produced), is responsible for this shameless repeat of "Carrie"--and not even an effective one, as telekinesis is a far more showy display of psychic power than having snakes slithering along the pavement or on the hood of a car. With a handful of TV-movies already mining the "Carrie" vault ("The Spell", "The Initiation of Sarah"), a theatrical retread of the same scenario seemed like a backwards step, and audiences stayed away. Lisa Pelikan has the lead (she was the young Vanessa Redgrave in "Julia" the year before); she has beautiful red hair and green eyes, but no screen presence. She's asked to stand-in for Sissy Spacek, though she looks much more like a teen-version of Piper Laurie in her high-necked white nightgown. Mild "product" from AIP at least gave work to several veteran actors, including Bert Convy, Jeff Corey, Nina Foch and John Gavin. * from ****

I know it's a long shot, but just in case you always wondered what Stephen Kings legendary character Carrie would be like if she used her telekinetic powers to manipulate animals, here's your chance! "Jennifer" IS "Carrie", but with a bunch of snakes thrown in. At least after a while; don't get your hopes about seeing snake-action up too soon. Carrie with snakes, how awesome does that sound? Both girls are the main target of mockery and humiliation at school, they both have one exaggeratedly protective and foolishly religious parent left and – of course – they are both driven to a mental collapse that ends with seriously horrific consequences for everyone. Heck, the only real difference is that Jennifer didn't suddenly start to menstruate in the school gym's shower! It's really too bad that the main story lines and narrative structure of "Jennifer" are so blatantly reminiscent to "Carrie", because the film itself really quite satisfying and competently made. The characters have depth, the script contains large and clever amounts of social commentary and the overall atmosphere of the film is unsettling and continuously ominous. Director Brice Mack (who the hell is he?) patiently takes his time to build up towards a solid & suspenseful climax, particularly through a long series of painful high-school situations. Lisa Pelikan is excellent as the pitiable heroine Jennifer, but Amy Johnston is even better as her nemesis, the rich, snotty, spoiled and manipulative bitch Sandra. She's one of them characters you would really like to pull out of the TV-screen and personally strangle her with your own bare hands. You know, like Nancy Allen's character in – oh yeah – Carrie!! "Jennifer" is an overall solid and recommendable thriller but, be advised, it's rather slow-paced and contains very little gore. As a matter a fact, this might actually be the ONLY rip-off that is less gruesome, less exploitative and less grotesque than the classic original it's based on. That particular aspect of curiosity alone is worthy of a recommendation.

Obviously a Carrie rip-off, and a pretty lame one at that - in spite of a few half decent performances. The director does an okay job of building suspense, and the crew obviously know what they're doing (and use decent equipment because the film looks quite good for a low budget American effort), but Jennifer - as a film - never really goes anywhere. It does promise revenge, but when it comes it's so underwhelming that the only conclusion I came to was this this film must've been cobbled together by a few religious nuts with some spare cash to invest in order to write off some tax dollars. Why "religious nuts"? Because of the premise of the film, and the nature of Jennifer's revenge. Religious snake handling?! Really? Nope - it doesn't work for me. The end result is a disappointing film with some terrible special effects and a largely wasted cast and crew.

Forget all comparisons to Carrie and enjoy this movie for what it was meant to be - a simple and entertaining departure, in the guise of a brief morality play, without the usual strain toward art and artifice. Enjoy the absurdity of the quality of the 'special effects'. Does a giant snake have to "look real" ? There's no need for literalism when you have an imagination. Lisa Pelikan is emphatic in the lead role, and Bert Convy is adequate in his supporting role ( I LOVE THE 70's ! ! ! ), but pay attention to Louise Hoven as Jane Delano. She is the heart and soul of the movie because she is any one of us. We make mistakes while trying to fit in with the 'in' crowd. We are used for our resources, are victimized, and then, finally, lash back at our abusers. I can't see this movie enough. And, if schmaltz is your pleasure, you'll love the intro and exit songs.

"Jennifer" follows a young Southern woman who is studying at an elite girls' boarding school on a scholarship. Unlike her peers, who come from esteemed families and backgrounds, Jennifer is an outlier who lives off-campus with her Bible-quoting, pet store-owning father, with whom she fled their native West Virginia as a child after she caused the death of someone via her psychic connection with serpents. When she becomes the target of a bully, Sandra, Jennifer eventually strikes back.

Perhaps most audacious "Carrie" rip-off of all, "Jennifer" plays like a television film, though I mean that in an endearing way. It is drama-heavy, focusing on Jennifer's school and home life, which is interwoven with a fairly underdeveloped subplot explaining Jennifer's psychic connection with snakes, which is possibly(?) linked to her familial heritage to the "hill people" of West Virginia. The folkloric underpinnings of the film are never fully elucidated, and this is perhaps its biggest problem.

That being said, "Jennifer" is still a remarkably enjoyable twist on the "Carrie" formula. Despite its low budget, director Brice Mack manages to reap plenty of atmosphere from the halls of the boarding school in which the film is set, which provide the backdrop for most of the teenage torment that Jennifer undergoes. There are a handful of effective sequences here, especially the locker room and pool sequence that seems to be a nod to Jacques Tourneur's "Cat People." The film's big finale is admittedly a bit of a dud, though it is shot in a way that is very psychedelic, with lens filters and disco-esque flashing lights. Lisa Pelikan makes for a likable, downtrodden antihero, while John Gavin appears in essentially a non-role as Sandra's senator father. Nina Foch is also memorable as the pill-dependent headmistress who values pedigree over integrity while running her school.

Horror fans should approach "Jennifer" without expecting any real hard-edged thrills. The film is really more of a chamber drama about bullying than anything else, though it does veer into horror territory around the midway point. The film really has the feel of the classic '70s television horror films, which is a period/genre I've always adored, so for me, "Jennifer" was a real treat to watch. Despite its low budget, "Jennifer" manages to heap on the atmosphere and provide a bit of offbeat creepiness, supported by a memorable--and at times, spooky--score. Highly recommended for fans of '70s television films. 7/10.

I only saw the last half-hour of this film. I have been looking all over the four corners of the earth and finally found it available for order on the internet. When I see the whole thing, I'll make additional comments. I'm tired of maudlin films with reprehensible characters who get killed or suffer misfortune, only to have the other characters weeping or remorseful over the misfortune that character deserved to get. But that's not the case with Jennifer. It is uncompromising and doesn't pull any punches when exacting revenge on many of the film's vicious characters. Some of you have criticized the effects, but be understanding that without today's digital and computer effects, they were limited in what they could do. A good effort, with some reasonably well-known stars adding spice to the film.

(1978) Jennifer PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR

Jennifer is the PG variation of "Carrie" starring Lisa Pelikan as the title character who becomes mocked and ridiculed by the only wealthy student Sandra (Amy Johnston) since her daddy is a senator. Jennifer's dad owns a pet store, and believes his daughter, Jennifer inherited snake powers as a result of what his she used to do when she was a child, upon her dipping her hand in a bowl of poisonous snakes during a religious ceremony. Veteran actress Nina Foch(My Name is Julia Ross) also stars as Mrs. Calley.

Somewhat consists of an interesting premised with out much of a payoff.

Jennifer is a Carrie clone in one sense. The other sense is it's a dull, not much happening, kind of film. Lisa Pelican as the taunted outsider Carrie type, is great, where Bert Convy's performance, as a concerned teacher, who befriends her, ironically kind of fits the dullness and sombre air of this film. These real posh bitches, an almost intolerable sort, steal the show, who keep taunting, new scholar, Jennifer, who receives less than a warm welcome at this upper class school, where she's rural, and of a lower class. They just keep coming at her until she finally breaks. I did like that continuity, and that did work. I was so waiting for Jennifer to break, and return forth vengeance on her taunters with her special gift. I wonder if you can guess what this is. Unlike Carrie, Jennifer, I'm afraid is just a time passer, one car on fire scene, resembling the one in Carrie's. Pelican is the only one, who's been done wrong here.

A lonely poor teenager at an elitist private school is tormented by her evil classmates who don't know that she has the power to control snakes to do her bidding.

Jennifer offers a few twists on the Carrie formula namely with the character of Jane who starts out as one of the main baddie's right hand gal and eventually comes over to Jennifer's side. It's an interesting character arc in a somewhat derivative, but entertaining film. The finale where the title character gets her revenge won't cause the filmmakers of Carrie to shake in their boots any time soon since most of the effects look silly

Jennifer is basically Carrie with snakes instead of telekinesis. That's about it, but it's still a fun movie. The teenagers are, in some ways, even more evil than the ones in Carrie and Jennifer's father is a bit more understanding and supportive than Carrie's deranged mother. It's a much brighter and more empowering film as a whole, so if you're interested in that, you should enjoy it.

This Is one belter, of a film. I have just watched this video. I thought that Sandra Trmayne, was a rich spoilt brat, who thought she ruled the school. And her Principal was bribed by huge cheques for $1,00000 to keep her there. Then Jennifer came along, Just a red headed brunette Girl, of a poor background, Who I thought was very pretty! and down to earth. her father encouraged her to use the power from the night! Sandra was not happy, unless the other girls obeyed her,I would of said "Just who do you think you are??" You are not in charge!One quote in this film holds true, beware the mask of beauty, Do Not trust Anyone! I did not like the way Sandra treat Jane, just because she did not do as she was told. After one prank too many, Jennifer then asked for the power and strength to be given to her, She put her hands into a box of deadly snakes, and when Sandra and the team kidnapped her that night in the boot of the car, I recognised the music used it was Toccata Also Sandra was not paying any attention to her teacher, she was sex obsessed all the time, this I would of found totally unacceptable. While Jenny was becoming a nice Girl and very bright! despite being poor. I liked the little kitten, but it met a sad demise, I know that Jenny did not do it. I am going to rate this film very high 10/10 I have had this video laying under my bed for ages. I am glad I dug it out, as there was nothing on telly.

I received my videotape of Jennifer today and I saw it. While the effects near the end were a little shoddy, it was an overall good effort. The writing, acting, character development and suspense were very good. If they had today's digital effects with which to do the snake attack scenes, the film could have been a gem.