Carrie (1976)
A classic adaptation of the novel by Stephen King.
Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Plot: Carrie is a sheltered, shy teen who is teased by her classmates and never included in social activities. Her mother is a religious fanatic, quoting the bible and keeping Carrie under strict conditions. But Carrie has more power than she thinks.
Opinion: Carrie is often referenced as one of the top horror films. It is technically a horror movie, but honestly, it made me profoundly sad. Carrie is a sympathetic character and to see her experience some joy, only for it to be ripped away was heartbreaking. Sure, there are elements of the supernatural and the ending is pretty intense, but this isn’t a traditional scary movie.
Sissy Spacek does an amazing job as the titular character, making the viewer sympathetic to her struggles. Willam Katt as Tommy and Betty Buckley as the coach are both standouts as well.
The original book is written by Stephen King, the script is written by Lawrence Cohen, and the movie is directed by Brian DiPalma. Despite all the male influence, the story follows a teenage girl and the insecurities and problems she faces. Not that the events of the film are entirely unrelatable, but the story is clearly told through a male lens (i.e. lingering shots of naked girls and a traumatic incident involving a period). Some feminine perspective may have benefited the film, but the story is still effective. Carrie wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but I quite enjoyed it.
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