i watched Carrie for the first time ever, not knowing the entire ending. here's my thoughts:
Carrie (1976) opens with the iconically devastating locker room scene, Carrie White at the age 17 gets her period while in the shower after yet another gym class spent isolated. Carrie, not knowing the annoying reality of girlhood due to her incredibly religious mother, panics. The girls laugh at her, throw tampons and maxi pads at her while she cries in the corner and truly believes she is dying. Fortunately, the gym teacher comes to the rescue.
I won't go much more into depth about the rest of the plot as to strain away from spoilers for those who haven't seen it. However, the entirety of the movie keeps you captivated and abnormally on the edge of your seat. This movie is just as heartbreaking as it is terrifying.
Sissy Spacek is unreal as Carrie White. Although, rumor has it she wasn't even meant to audition! Her Carrie is captures both the innocence and quiet rage that's been building up for her entire life. Piper Laurie as Margaret White is equally as unsettling as she is phenomenal. The two of them together create a heart shattering mother-daughter dynamic that could be considered one of horror's most disturbing parental relationships.
And now, the prom. Arguably one of the most iconic and catastrophic scenes in the history of horror movies. The direction, the cinematography, the score, and Sissy Spacek make this scene exactly what I believe Stephen King meant for it to be.
My only reasoning for stopping at 4.5 stars is the fact that some scenes simply seem to drag on longer than intended. This movie is most definitely a period piece of the 70s and that is very much noticeable based on some of the dialogue and fashion (notably men in bell bottoms, love it!). As much as I love Sissy Spacek, I would adore a book accurate plus sized Carrie! I think it would add an entirely separate tone and clarity that this film lacked. None of these things take anything away from the emotional impact this movie had on me, but it just caused it to shy away from being perfect.
Nearly 50 years after its release, Carrie is still one of the most iconic horror films out there! It's themes of bullying, isolation, religious trauma, female shame, and more are what make it so unforgettable and unique emotional experience.
follow my letterboxd for much less in depth reviews! just my initial and honest thoughts (◠‿◠✿)
