One to see: Carrie (1976)
November 7th 2008 03:10
I love horror movies, I'm the first to admit it. Being able to get a rush of adrenalin simply by sitting on the couch and engaging in what's on the screen is fantastic! But the 1976 film Carrie is so much more than a horror film - it's a chilling look at the cruelty of high-school girls and what can happen when religious devotion goes too far. It's a comment on middle-American society, and it's not Carrie White's powers of telekinesis that make the film scary, but the demented actions of her evangelical Christian mother and the evilness with which Carrie's peers exact their revenge on her.
Sissy Spacek almost didn't get the role of Carrie because she was "too beautiful", but she really takes on the shy, damaged personality of the title character and makes it her own - so much so that you couldn't imagine anyone else in the role. You really feel bad for her; she may have supernatural powers but you feel nothing but pity for her. Piper Laurie (who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress) is brilliant as Carrie's brainwashing mother; a true villainess. The rest of the cast are great also, and John Travolta makes an appearance as the boyfriend of Carrie's nemesis Chris.
The whole film has an eerie feeling about it, which is supported by the score and the camera work. There's a lot of female nudity, as sexual awakening is an important theme throughout. Really, all director Brian De Palma had to do to make the film a success was to follow Stephen King's story as closely as possible, and he certainly does this. No wonder it's such a cult classic!
If you like your movies more chilling than gory, then Carrie is worth a look. It was the pioneer of high-school-based horror films, and remains a favourite of critics and audiences alike for its story and cast performances. Most of all, it speaks from the heart - and never will you meet a villainess so atypical as Carrie White.
Sissy Spacek almost didn't get the role of Carrie because she was "too beautiful", but she really takes on the shy, damaged personality of the title character and makes it her own - so much so that you couldn't imagine anyone else in the role. You really feel bad for her; she may have supernatural powers but you feel nothing but pity for her. Piper Laurie (who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress) is brilliant as Carrie's brainwashing mother; a true villainess. The rest of the cast are great also, and John Travolta makes an appearance as the boyfriend of Carrie's nemesis Chris.
Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie
Sissy Spacek and William Katt
The whole film has an eerie feeling about it, which is supported by the score and the camera work. There's a lot of female nudity, as sexual awakening is an important theme throughout. Really, all director Brian De Palma had to do to make the film a success was to follow Stephen King's story as closely as possible, and he certainly does this. No wonder it's such a cult classic!
If you like your movies more chilling than gory, then Carrie is worth a look. It was the pioneer of high-school-based horror films, and remains a favourite of critics and audiences alike for its story and cast performances. Most of all, it speaks from the heart - and never will you meet a villainess so atypical as Carrie White.
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