Carrie (1976) Movie Review

 

 

Carrie | 1976 | 1h 38m
Genre: Supernatural Horror/Teen Horror/Horror/Mystery | Country: US
Director: Brian De Palma | Writers: Stephen King, Lawrence D. Cohen
Cast: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving
IMDB: 7.4
My Rate: 8/10

Carrie White rebels against her religiously fanatic mother and discovers she has telekinetic powers after puberty.  Her actions escalate after Tommy asks her to the prom, leading to an unimaginable nightmare.

Warnings:

Contains violence, strong language, nudity, and sensual scenes.

 

Synopsis:

Carrie (Sissy Spacek) experiences her first period at school and panics, fearing it will kill her.  Her classmates taunt her by throwing sanitary products, including Sue (Amy Irving).  Gym teacher Miss Collins (Betty Buckley) intervenes.

The school calls Carrie's mother (Piper Laurie), who believes Carrie's period is divine punishment for sin. Carrie blames her mother for the bullying, but her mother insists on prayer for forgiveness.

Carrie discovers her telekinetic abilities and seeks information in the library, keeping it a secret from her mother.

Sue feels guilty and, after being punished by Miss Collins, plans to skip the prom.  She asks her boyfriend, Tommy (William Katt), to take Carrie instead.  Tommy agrees, despite Miss Collins's accusations of a planned prank.

Carrie attends despite her mother's objections, using her powers to silence her.  She doesn't anticipate the prom's chaos due to Chris, a bully, who has set a trap for her.

What happens to Carrie and the prom?

 

Review:

Carrie is an adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name.  It has been remade several times, including the 2013 version starring Chloë Grace Moretz.  Interestingly, unlike the 2013 version, which features a teenage actress, the original Carrie stars Sissy Spacek, who was 27 at the time, but convincingly portrays a 16-year-old.

The story and character development are well-done. However, the main conflict could have been more intense.  The tension could have been heightened, a point seemingly improved in the 2013 version.  The ending differs from the other version but delivers a more impactful horror.

The acting is natural, particularly Sissy Spacek's portrayal of Carrie's character development, showing a significant change from her initial appearance to after puberty.  Her mother's character is realistic, not overly psychopathic, though her fanaticism is evident.  The teacher's character is also reasonably portrayed.

The music and sound effects are well-chosen.  The camera work and attention to detail are good, capturing key expressions effectively.

Compared to the 2013 version, several details differ: Carrie walks home alone after the bullying; she emerges from the closet after praying; Sue realizes her actions independently; Carrie's mother isn't locked in a closet; and the teacher dies at the prom.  Also, the telekinetic powers are less prominent in the original.

Tommy and Carrie's relationship is less developed than in the 2013 version, where their interactions lead to Carrie falling in love.  This is likely due to the original story's pacing.

Overall, this film is engaging, especially considering the limitations of filmmaking technology at the time.  It delivers a captivating story with a systematic presentation.

 

Memorable Scene:

Tommy asks Carrie to dance at the prom.  He feels a connection with Carrie, realizing she's a kind person.

This scene shows that you can't judge a book by its cover.  Someone might be deemed "unworthy" based on others' opinions or perceived shyness. However, upon getting to know them, you might discover attractive qualities.

 

Memorable Dialogue:

"Because it's a very big deal for Carrie White, and you know it."

 
Ending:

Sad Ending

 

Recommendation:

Worth Watching

 

(Aluna)