(1976) ***1/2High school student Carrie White gets her first period during a locker room shower after gym class, setting in motion a chain of events that is to end tragically for just about every character who appears in this film. Carrie has been psychologically and physically abused by her mom, a delusional religious zealot beautifully portrayed by Piper Laurie. Carrie's shyness and awkwardness make her an easy target for the other high school kids, and her suppressed rage begins to be channelled into telekinetic outbursts.
Maybe this is the review that gets me kicked off the blog? Shockingly enough, today was the first time I've ever seen Carrie (1976) and maybe I'm being too hard on it. I love the plot, the casting, the acting, and the effects, but I thought the film played way too melodramatically (split screens! slo-mo! spinning cameras!). Probably if I'd seen it in the theater when it came out, without having read the novel, it would have really disturbed and shocked me; as it was I felt a little let down. Humph. Maybe if I sleep on it, an extra star will emerge? Or maybe Carrie (1976) just isn't a masterpiece. Thoughts?
3 comments:
I love this film but alot of that has to do with me sneaking in to it at a young age and it scaring the living shit out of me.
The spinning camera shots of them dancing at the prom is nauseating most definitely. The split screens were supposed to make you feel like there was so much chaos going on at once but I don't think it was necessary for them to get the point across. Good and accurate review if you ask me AC.
Historically this movie has a lot of street cred, and I think it deserves most of it (unlike The Omen, as Jordan's recent review indicates). In addition to the signature climax, I think it gets props for the most famous hand-coming-out-of-the-ground gag. And it's got great performances from Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie.
BUT, it also has moments of bizarre silliness, like the "everone's getting ready for the prom!" montage. It certainly diffuses the horror.
I'm not dissing the rating. All I know is, the end scared the hell out of me when I first saw this movie!
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