31 Days of Horror: Carrie (1976)

“They’re all gonna laugh at you.”

Filmology Rating: 3.5 out of 4

'Carrie' from 1976, not the remake, is a Stephen King classic and masterpiece of the horror genre.

Around this time, the Hollywood Brats (Ford-Coppola, Spielberg, Lucas, De Palma, Scorsese), were all becoming successful. Ford-Coppola first with 'The Godfather', Spielberg with 'Jaws', then Scorsese with 'Taxi Driver.' Brian De Palma happened to like the story of Stephen King's first novel 'Carrie.' This would be King's first book made into a film as well. And right around 1975, Lucas and De Palma were casting their two films around the same time. They decided to team up and help each other cast the other's movie. Lucas helped on 'Carrie' and De Palma on 'Star Wars'-even though De Palma thought George's ideas were stupid.

This film centers around Carrie- a shy, withdrawn teenager trying her best not to be noticed in High School. This teenage drama turns from a heart-warming, coming-of-age story to the horrors of adolescence and bullying. 

What's so brilliant about this film is that it's not really a horror film. It's a very John Hughes concept executed in the darkest possible way. And through that, De Palma so brilliantly displays the actual horrors of a coming-of-age story. Because, for most people, not every story from your teens ends like a John Hughes film. Some are dark and you remember them for the rest of your life. 

Sissy Spacek as Carrie is probably the best performance in any horror film. She is indescribably brilliant. There's so many nonverbal cues in her performance and without any dialogue, you know exactly what she's thinking all the time.

Just from her first scene in the showers, you are given an hours-worth of pathos in a few minutes. You want to reach into the film and help Carrie because of how horribly she's treated. But one of the most frightening aspects is that you're just a bystander watching and there's nothing you can do to help Carrie. 

After that scene, Carrie returns back to her home, where we presume she'll be treated better. She is, but at the same time, she's treated almost as terribly as she is at school by her mother. Piper Laurie, Carrie's mother-Margaret, is also one of the best performances in a horror film. Her character shows the absolute worst scenario of helicopter parenting. And we're given a brilliant explanation as to why Margaret treats Carrie like she does; being as religiously devoted as she is, Margaret doesn't want Carrie to end up like her- a sinner. It's such an interesting relationship which later is examined at the end. 

The entire film builds up to a certain point. We see characters like Tommy Ross beginning to befriend Carrie. Once this happens, Tommy asks Carrie to the prom. It's so heart-warming to see Carrie finally coming out of her shell. She begins to smile more and she begins making friends. Once again, just a brilliantly subtle performance by Sissy Spacek. But then we internally remind ourselves, "Isn't this a horror film?" Then your stomach begins to turn as you realize where the film is going. 

At the height of Carrie's happiness, she and Tommy are crowned Prom King and Queen. And that satisfaction of a happy, bow-tie of an ending is about to be pulled away from us. 

John Travolta has such a strangely small role in this film. This was before 'Saturday Night Fever' and 'Grease', so it is odd seeing him play such a boring and flat character. But him and his girlfriend, who are two wicked teenagers, plan to drop a giant bucket of pig's blood and guts on Carrie as she's crowned Prom Queen in front of the whole school.

The reason this film works so well as a horror film is because it first works as a drama. For people who say that horror films aren't supposed to have deep characterization because there's then less time for spooky stuff, clearly don't understand what can constitute as being scary. You could remove the entire ending where Carrie is using her supernatural powers, make it all grounded, and the film still works as a straight-drama that ends tragically.

I believe the core tension of the film is that you know what's going to happen. De Palma even puts it on the poster, but the tension that sits in your stomach for the runtime is wondering, "When?" And it's all the more sad because you know what Carrie doesn't know. You want to scream to her and tell her what's going on, but you can't. You must sit there and accept everything that's happening. 

Then entire final act after Carrie unleashes her rage in the form of her telekinetic powers is where the film begins to dip into its more recognizable horror aspects. However, the film does not end in some big extravaganza, it ends with a heart-breaking scene between Carrie and her mother. 

This film really struck a nerve with people because everyone went through some kind of public schooling at some point. This film takes those experiences and creates the worst possible outcome for a completely innocent character who has done nothing wrong. 

What also makes the film so great is that it's a tragedy. Carrie is just an adolescent girl trying to be normal. And every time she attempts to do so, something goes wrong and she cowers back to being shy and introverted. It's horrifying that she has this supernatural power and has done nothing wrong. It's the concept of paying the debt of your parent's sins. Because Carrie was born out of sin, Carrie is now paying for what her mother did. It's a horrifying thought. 

This is film is an absolute masterpiece of horror that works on many levels other than just being scary. It shows how female adolescence can be horrific and how disturbingly impactful bullying can be on a person. It also launched the career of Brian De Palma who became one of the most influential directors of the new wave of cinema. 

If you've never seen 'Carrie', it is a must watch film in your lifetime that is conveniently available on Netflix.

Rating: See It

-Nolan