Movie Notes: A Bloody Prom Queen - 'Carrie' (1976)

When I saw a stage musical based on the movie Carrie a few years ago in RCBC Theater I said to myself I should see the original movie and I liked it.

Spoiler alert! You can skip this part and go to where the movie notes section below. You have been warned! 

Carrie is based on the first novel by Stephen King and is also his first work to be adapted into a motion picture. It tells the story of a Carrie White (Sissy Spacek), a pubescent girl who faces bullying from her classmates for being shy and outcast and the same time the abusing of her religiously fanatic mother Margaret (Piper Laurie). 

One day while taking a shower at the gym lockers in school, she started to have her first period. Confused and thinking that she was bleeding to death she asks for help to her classmates which only responded by humiliating her by throwing tampons and feminine pads at her.  Ms. Collins (Betty Buckley) intervenes and because she was still in distress and frantic, a light bulb in the shower explodes. 

She would soon suspect that she has telekinetic powers and this was further proven when she flips an ashtray while in the Principal's office when he called her Cassie instead of Carrie and by turning over a boy riding a bike after he called her Creepy Carrie.

Upon returning home she would face her mother who instead of consoling, forces her to pray for forgiveness as this was the curse of blood.

Ms. Collins punishes the girls who taunted Carrie by putting them in detention and run at the oval. Chris (Nancy Allen) defies her and tried to incite insubordination after being slapped by Ms. Collins. She didn't get any sympathy and support because Ms. Collins would prevent anyone who goes with Chris.

Feeling guilty, Sue (Amy Irving) persuades her boyfriend Tommy (William Katt) to take Carrie to the Prom. Thinking it was a trick Carrie declines at first but later on accepts the invitation. She would be dissuaded by her mother but using her powers to pin her down she insists and goes to the prom.

Meanwhile, Chris goes to her boyfriend Billy (John Travolta) seeking revenge at Carrie. They fill in a bucket with pig's blood on top of the stage waiting for Carrie. Norma (PJ Soles) rigs the results of the Prom King and Queen and makes Carrie the winner so she can be on stage. Her moment was cut short as a bucket full of blood falls on her and she starts hallucinating that everyone laughs at her.


Filled with embarrassment and rage, she uses her powers to shut off every exit and kills everyone inside the gym before leaving it in flames. Chris and Billie manages to escape but when they tried to run over her she flips their car and it explodes.


She comes back at home to clean herself.  She hugs her mother when she sees her but she stabs her and falls in the stairs. Now that her mother wants to kill her, she uses her power to defend herself and shoots the knives onto her until she dies.

She caresses her mother until their house collapses into them and burns. Towards the end, Sue dreams of visiting the ruins of Carrie's house which now has a for sale sign vandalized with "Carrie White Burns in Hell". As soon as she lays down flowers, a hand (presumably that of Carrie) grabs her.

MOVIE NOTES

This movie is scary and amazing in so many levels. For one, Stephen King's work is a novelty because of Carrie's unusual character of being in power and vulnerable at the same time. She is not the typical murderous character in a horror flick because she is also a victim pushed to the limit. I see it as a story of abuse - from her own lunatic mother to her classmates. I feel  more sympathy towards her while the story unfolded. Although the ending was a bit of a cliché for me, I believe it followed the narratives curved approach of rising and falling suspense.

The visuals are very dark and stunning also and cinematography did a great job. The shots provided the right amount of light and shadow to induce a tensed feeling and atmosphere of the movie. The details of the set was impressive, especially that of Carrie's house. The first time I saw the creepy looking Jesus in the cross icon with the glowing eyes  was enough to give me the chills.

But perhaps the most important thing that made this movie a good horror movie is the performance of its actors, especially that of Spacek and Laurie. Spacek completely captured Carrie's vulnerability and her stares during the Prom rampage was terrifying. She provided an almost realistic take on the character. While Laurie on the other hand was convincing as a religious fanatic. The subtle trembles felt like she will do something crazy any moment - which she does by stabbing her own daughter. I would certainly pray for forgiveness if I am approached in such a way.

This is a classic horror movie because it is an amalgamation of stunning visuals, compelling narrative and a great performance of its actors.

I give this 4 out of 5 and listing it under my list of AMAZING Movies.




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This is a part of Fright Cinema 2015, a list of the best horror movies handpicked in no particular order by The Wandering Klutz. It features ten (10) films every year just in time for the scariest season of the year.