Carrie (Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Carrie (Special Edition)
Movie Review: You can't just look at this as a horror movie anymore
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my favorite films. If you've never seen it how lucky you are to still have it ahead of you! If you haven't seen it for years, and remember it as just a dumb teen horror movie, you have the pleasure of discovering how well made and acted it is.
I was one of those who just thought this was a dumb teen horror movie, and was thus surprised when it was the first film we studied in one of my college film courses. Learning how deftly layered and brilliantly directed this movie is was in large part my first awakening to how interesting and well-done horror and other dismissed genres can be.
Although this film was considered horror when it came out, now, more than 20 years later, I think you have to look at it as more of a macabre tragic drama, because certainly no one will be scared by it. Many on the IMDb complain that "nothing happens" in the first hour, which I blame on its continuing place in the "horror" genre. Unfortunately, those people are missing all of the character development and thematic content that makes the ending so moving to those who have followed it.
The film is unflinching in its portrayal of female jealousy and sublimated sexual rage. The appearance of Carrie's powers coincides with her first period, i.e. the onset of sexual maturity. The following events are all about sexual attraction and jealousy, following Carrie's emergence as a woman, the dynamics of the other girls at school and their sexual/romantic intrigues, and the White family's bizarre sexual mores. The drama with the girls at school is all about dates and sex and going to the prom. Carrie's sympathetic gym teacher tries to get her to wear makeup and pay more attention to her hair. Meanwhile, Carrie's mother equates her menstruation with acceptance of sin, and later refers to her breasts as "dirty pillows." Once you start to look at it this way, you'll be surprised at the number of incidents and bits of dialogue that relate to this theme, and how carefully focused the entire screenplay is.
Sissy Spacek's performance really is multi-layered and heartbreaking, and gets better the more you get into the film. The early scenes at the prom, when you see her trying her best to get out of her shell, and how scared she is of being hurt, are all the more tragic knowing what is going to happen to her a few minutes later. When she is announced as Prom Queen, you see from the look on her face that she has finally come to believe that she has been accepted and liked. That the image of her walking silently through the burning school still remains so iconic and startlingly creepy is testament to her performance and this film's power.
The other amazing thing is DePalma's direction. The sequence beginning with the announcement of Carrie as Prom Queen is a masterpiece of building tension -- notice the music and editing as the sequence gathers speed, culminating with the spilling of the blood. You will also notice that this entire sequence is dialogue-free. It is so tight, audacious and over-the-top that you have to admire it. I know DePalma later expressed regret over the split screen effect, but I remember how effective it was when I first saw the film -- it left me feeling like so much is happening at once that you couldn't possibly take it all in. It's really overwhelming and distancing at the same time -- as opposed to most horror films that try to bring viewers INTO the terror.
The mere fact that this movie is still around almost 25 years later is a testament to its brilliance. It is much more respected now than when it first came out-- in part I think because the "horror" label worked against it. Look at the horror aspects the way they should be -- as a metaphor-- and you'll start to get into it. The closer you look the better it becomes.
Movie Review: Unique blend of horror and sentiment.
Summary: 5 Stars
There's one thing I specifically like about certain horror films, and that is those that contain the horror elements, yet have a story that allows you to feel a great deal of emotion for a main or secondary character, depending on the focus of the plot. When Stephen King wrote his first novel, Carrie, it was shocking as well as emotionally heart-stopping. Brian de Palma's film, following soon after, is groundbreaking and intense, and captures the horror of the character's actions as well as the horror of her secluded and alienated school and home life. Carrie White has never been popular in school, and the verbal and physical abuse has apparently gotten worse with each year. One day, she gets her first period in the showers of the girls locker room, and frantically running to everyone for help, she is bombarded by shouts of banter and flying tampons. After it is learned that she was never told by anyone about this process of life, we soon learn the reason why: her mother is a Bible-thumping embodiment of a true maniac, who believes that every action committed by man is a sin in the eyes of God. Her treatment of her daughter is extremely harsh, but only until Carrie learns that she possesses a special gift, the ability to move objects with her mind. Meanwhile, Sue Snell, one of the girls involved in the malicious locker room incident, feels guilt over her actions and asks her boyfriend Tommy to take Carrie to the prom. Carrie accepts, and attends the event despite her mother's warnings of doom and sin. But something much worse will happen, something more terrifying than Mrs. White could ever imagine.
"Carrie" is one of the most well-known horror films of all time, and has set the standard for many later films of the genre. The entire premise for the movie is quite original, and the execution of the material is even more powerful and emotional than the novel itself. What makes it so emotional is the fact that there is a human story that happens everyday around the world. Carrie is constantly bantered and teased about every aspect of her life: her home, her mother, her apparel, and her demeanor, and it is done in such a manner that you cannot help but feel a great deal of sorrow for her when she commits the ultimate act in the finale of the film.
De Palma's camera angles and cinematography add an immense amount to the overall effect. Many of his shots usually center on someone in the foreground, while Carrie is somewhere within the near background, making her appear minute and small among everyone else. His use of the two-window effect for the prom sequence helps us to see more of the destruction and the reactions people have to events going on around them. One more notable sequence is opening scene, in the girls locker room, where we see the rest of the girls having fun and making merry while Carrie is alone and singled out in the shower stall. Throughout the movie, De Palma does a spectacular job in making Carrie seem insignificant when put with a group of people.
Sissy Spacek was brought to the project to play the title character, and does a top-notch job. She is the perfect "ugly-duckling" type for the role, and she is able to play out all of the emotion and terror that Carrie experiences throughout the novel. Amy Irving is does a credible job as Sue Snell, and her performance makes us believe that Sue really does feel sorry for what she has done to Carrie. The rest of the ensemble makes the movie believable, and never is there a moment where you will question the authenticity of a performance.
Certain to remain a hallmark of moviemaking, "Carrie" will shock, scare, and incite emotion for years to come. It is a movie that operates on many different levels, each beginning at separate times of the film, yet converging in the end to sweep us up in horror and sorrow.
Movie Review: A Pretty Good Film and adaptation overall.
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1974, Stephen King wrote a novel called "Carrie". At the time, he hadn't been known, he was struggling financially, and he was an English teacher earning next to nothing. He wrote the first few pages to Carrie and immediately threw them in the trash, thinking it was terrible. His wife came by, pulled the pages out of the trash and urged him to continue. She thought it was good, and after King finally finished the novel, he was willing to admit he liked it too.
King ended up earning as much as Mario Puzo did for "The Godfather" in advancement pay for the book, and Carrie launched his career. Two years after Carrie ran away with selling over three million copies, Brian DePalma adapted it into a film. Today it's known as a horror movie classic! And since it's movie debut in 1976, nearly every story Stephen King writes gets adapted into film!
Carrie is your classic story about a misunderstood girl. She's trapped by her over-christian mother, who never lets her do anything, and is picked on constantly.
One fine day at school, Carrie experiences her first period, and several students throwing sanity napkins at her screaming "Plug it up!" Carrie, helpless because she's never had her period before, slumps in the corner in shame. She goes home to her extreme christian mother, and her mother thinks she must've sinned.
As Carrie goes on, taking torture from other students, there's one out there that feels sorry for her. Her name is Sue Snell, and she manages to convince her boyfriend to take Carrie to the prom.
Of course, Carrie's mother doesn't approve of it. And as Carrie begins to find her own independence, she also begins to discover her unique ability to move things with her mind. The power of Telekinesis.
Chris, a girl who has nothing better to do than torture Carrie, gets suspended for the stunt of throwing sanity napkins and tampons at Carrie, decides to get even with her. She gets her boyfriend, and they go and get some pigs blood.
During prom, Carrie and Sue's boyfriend, Tommy, are elected Prom King and Queen, and that's when Chris pulls her stunt that will soon bring about the death of nearly everyone at the prom.
When Carrie finally gets the pigs blood dumped on her, she snaps and takes her revenge! Of it's time (and even today) the scene is still amazing to look at. Even though they left out one of the best lines in the book ("Pigs blood for the pig!") they did manage to portray the destruction caused at prom.
The movie only shows the Prom massacre, but in the book, the whole town felt the rage of Carrie! Luckily, this part isn't thrown into the movie as it is too much for some to handle.
While it doesn't look nearly as good as it did twenty years ago, it's still an amazing film to watch. The first Stephen King adaptation, turns out to be one of the better ones. Later adaptations as memorbale as Carrie ("Misery" "Stand By Me" and "The Shawshank Redemption" to name a few) came a little too few and far between, but Carrie in itself was a treat.
To this day, the acting is still memorable, and the scene that made Carrie a popular film (the last scene) is still perfect. If you enjoy Stephen King, Carrie is the perfect example of what an adaptation should be. It's not exactly like the book, but it still keeps the basic idea. THAT'S what a movie adaptation should be.
It certainly doesn't live up to horror standards today. By that I mean, it really isn't scary at all. Horror movies even today aren't scary. But you'll love this movie. Any Stephen King fan owes it to himself/herself to see this film.
Movie Review: Slow dancing with the devil...
Summary: 5 Stars
Stephen King is known as the `king' of horror, and `Carrie' is the story that made him famous. In fact, it was after the massive reception that `Carrie' received as a mass market paperback novel that King was able to quit his day job; literally. The film adaptation also received major critical buzz and reception, nabbing Oscar nominations for Spacek and co-star Laurie as well as a few other awards (Spacek won the NSFC award for her performance). All the praise and admiration is deserved, definitely, for `Carrie' is one of Kings grandest stories, and Brian De Palma delivers masterfully with his big screen adaptation, capturing the very essence of King with each frightfully delicious frame.
The film, and the novel, tell a story as old as time; that of a young outcast pushed too far by too many people. Kind of like the `pre-columbine' school angst story, this film places young Carrie White in the hot seat. Carrie is a social outcast, shunned by her peers, teased by the other schoolgirls and sheltered by her religious fanatic mother. On top of that Carrie has just recently realized that she can move things with her mind.
After a school teasing goes too far Carrie finds herself being asked to the prom by popular kid Tommy. His girlfriend Sue asked him to escort Carrie to prom since she felt bad about the way the other girls were treating her. Little does Sue or Tommy know but a few of the other kids are planning something tragically dastardly for prom night, but they will soon wish they had not crossed that line.
Brian De Palma truly utilizes his surroundings in order to create a horrific film, one that is chilling and disturbing and utterly mesmerizing. The film sounds like a horror movie, it looks like a horror movie; it nearly smells like a horror movie. Every fixture, every article of clothing, every shriek of the musical score; everything breathes horror into each passing frame. Add to that some brilliantly crafted performances that understand and embellish the whole idea behind the film and you have a superbly orchestrated horror film.
Sissy Spacek is otherworldly as Carrie. I'm reminded of Geena Davis in `The Fly', for Spacek just looks alienesque as Carrie. Her eyes seem to bulge right out of her skull; her skin seems to grab tightly to her bones; her voice seems to barely escape her lips. Spacek captures the supernatural elements of her character masterfully, creating something much richer than a mere tortured youth. She understands that, while her character is supposed to represent the entertain struggles of modern-day adolescence, she is also supposed to also capture something unnatural within her character, and she does that magically. Piper Laurie also manages to come alive in every frame as Carrie's insanely fanatic mother Margaret. A true stab in the heart of religion, King created a character straight out of our nightmares, a mother whose idealistic values are far beyond those a rational parent.
The rest of the supporting players all do their best to elevate the film, Travolta falling behind a tad (but he's rarely impressive). De Palma, Specek and Laurie are truly the most deserving of praise for this film lies on their very sturdy shoulders.
As far as horror movies go, `Carrie' is top notch. De Palma's camera work is astonishtingly good, reaching into every corner and dragging out the chills and surprisingly emotional validity. It is not very often that a film in this genre is able to tackle the subjects of abuse, acceptance, vengeance and religion with such poise and passion. This is a good film; period. The fact that it is a horror film is merely a bonus
Movie Review: Tragic and Effective Horror Drama
Summary: 5 Stars
This film launched the career of Stephen King as one of the writers whose work has been most assiduously plundered by Hollywood. Not to mention a supporting role for an utterly unknown actor in his early twenties by the name of John Travolta. It was by no means Brain de Palma's first movie but it was the breakthrough movie that got him on the A-list. And it's highly de Palmaesque: imagine Alfred Hitchcock but with any capacity Hitchcock had for subtlety and understatement taken away and de Palma is pretty well what you get as this movie abundantly illustrates. It's about a schoolgirl, Carrie White, beautifully played by the extraordinary Sissy Spacek. She is bullied by her classmates but school is not half as bad as her home life where she is tormented by her insane religious fanatic mother. This dreadful woman played by Piper Laurie who reads to her daughter from a big book called "The Sins of Women" and thinks menstruation is evil is, for my money, the least satisfying aspect of the film. Are there really people this bonkers? Well probably I suppose: modern America must be pretty close to plenitude when it comes to the possibilities of madness. But still I think a more interesting movie would have located someone like Carrie in an adolescent environment that was hellish in more ordinary, less wildly over the top ways which, let's face it, can still be extremely hellish.
By someone like Carrie I mean someone who can do telekinesis, that being the film's central idea. It's a horror movie in virtue of the mayhem these powers of hers let loose at the end but in fact the first hour and a bit isn't horror at all, just a drama about Carrie and her tribulations with her cruel classmates and insane mother. The telekinesis does manifest itself in these early stages but in decidedly tame and unterrifying ways like knocking over ashtrays.
The most striking - and notorious - scene in this early, dramatic part of the movie is the very first, set in the school's girls' shower room. And as you'd expect with that setting and this director it's a scene with an atmosphere of considerable voyeurism. Then suddenly there is blood and terror from Carrie whom nobody has told about periods and her conviction that something is horribly wrong with her prompts immediate cruel hilarity among her classmates which then obviously makes her all the more distressed. Punishment results for this cruelty which a teacher has witnessed, punishment which leaves one of the perpetrators with a guilty desire to help Carrie integrate and another which a vindictive desire to spite her yet further. The playing out of these contrasting determinations is what drives most of the ensuing plot.
A dimension in which the film is particularly successful is in conveying a genuine sense of tragedy. The destructive rage of the climactic scenes when everything goes horribly wrong results from Carrie's confused and panicked overreaction to a vicious prank at a point when she really seems well on the way to sorting out her problems. She seems to have learned how to stand up to her horrible mad mother. And although the invitation she gets to the school prom is motivated, unknown to her, by pity and guilt, it's caused her for the first time to make enough of an effort with her appearance to make it suddenly apparent to everyone that she is easily the most gorgeous girl in the school. Acceptance and normality seem to beckon. And then... Lots of blood, lots of fire and suddenly everybody (well more or less everybody) is dead. And these final scenes of mayhem and horror, it must be said, are orchestrated and directed by de Palma with considerable brilliance.