Carrie (1976)

 

Yes, you all know the iconic imagery of Sissy Spacek covered in blood. But this is not your run-of-the-mill horrorfilm. Nope, this one makes you feel uncomfortable, because even if you don't know the story beforehand, you can always feel something is going to go horribly, horribly wrong. 

Which also is one of the reasons why this film is bloody great. Obviously, pun intended.

In some unnamed highschool, Carrie unexpectedly has her period in the showers after volleyball practice. This in itself wouldn't be so bad, but Carrie has a mother who is a religious zealot and who has never told her anything about this. Not only that, but because she is very shy and reclusive, she almost constantly gets picked on by pretty much everyone, Chris Hargenson first. Carrie is completely traumatized and only the phys ed teacher Miss Collins shows her any sympathy. Heck, the headmaster constantly mispronounces her name.

But Carrie begins to discover that when she gets upset, she can move things with her mind. She goes to the library and learns more about telekinesis, which of course makes sense to her, as she is getting better at it. Meanwhile, all the girls from class are punished and pretty much have their tickets to the prom compromised. Most abide by the rules, but Chris has had enough and doesn't care anymore. She swears she will get her revenge on Carrie, even though the poor girl had nothing to do with it. But Chris is a grade A bitch and nutcase anyway. 

Sue Snell, another girl from class, feels sorry for Carrie and instructs her friend Tommy, who is one of the top athletes of the school and a very popular guy, to ask Carrie to go to the prom. They don't do this out of nastiness, but really want to do some good for Carrie. But this backfires, as Carrie's mom goes all old testament on her daughter, evoking Carrie's telekinesis and thus confirming to the mom that the girl is the spawn of Satan. For the majority of the prom, things go well and Carrie learns to open up a little. But then... 

This film has several things going for it. The story hits hard, as everyone knows or knew at least one person that was usually the brunt of pestering at school, or that quiet kid everyone thought was weird. Here, Carrie truly doesn't understand the world because her mom twisted everything and is completely cuckoo. 

Yes, 'religious nut' is one of those Stephen King-tropes, but looking at the world, no one can deny these people exist.

Even though things seem to be going better for the girl, you can always tell something bad is going to happen. Not just because director Brian De Palma neatly inserts parts with Chris and her boyfriend planning something. All the film through, you feel this unease, this gnawing feeling that something bad is going to happen. When that does happen, it's not that big of a surprise, but the film isn't done yet and goes for another climax. You really do feel bad for Carrie.

Which is a nice segue into the brilliant portrayal by Sissy Spacek. Damn, does she do an excellent job of playing Carrie as a timid and oppressed girl, but who slowly opens up, only to get everything slammed in her face again. It's one hell of an achievement and thé reason to watch this. The supporting cast is solid (especially William Katt as Tommy is great), but some people overdo it. PJ Soles as Norma, one of the more annoying girls, is a bit OTT. The same goes for Nancy Allen as Chris, but she does nail the fact that you hate her all the way through. But she is a bit too obviously psycho to really hit the message home. 

Oh, and I haven't even mentioned Piper Laurie as Carrie's mom, whom you might feel is overacting somewhat, but she actually comes creepily close to people that are so deep in their madness, they think they know all and act through a deity. While in fact, they're just a loony as a bag of cats. When Laurie goes full mental, it does feel like a bit too much.

This thriller/horrorfilm is one of the best Stephen King-adaptations and it should be mostly remembered and revered for Sissy Spacek, who is sublime. The rest isn't too shabby either. This one will leave you with a sense of unease, something that any decent to good horrorfilm should aspire to, without relying on too many gimmicks. 

The tacked on ending is a bit much, though.