Happy October internet people! Slick Dungeon here and it’s my favorite time of year because this gives me an excuse to watch and talk about horror movies. This year I thought I would do a deep dive into some of the most iconic adaptations from the master of horror himself, Stephen King. And if you’re going to review Stephen King adaptations, there’s really only one place to start. Carrie (1976). If you’re reading this there is a good chance you’ve seen the film. But for those of you who have not, there will be major spoilers in this review. If you haven’t watched it and don’t want spoilers, take the time to get away from the high school bullies, caring but misguided teachers, and your overbearing mother to go out and see the film. Then come on back here to read the blood drenched review!

Background for Carrie (1976)

It can’t be overstated how close horror fans were to never seeing this story in print or on film. Stephen King intended to write a short story about a female character. He wrote three pages and tossed them in the garbage. Luckily, his wife Tabitha found the pages in the trash, read them, and convinced Stephen to keep writing the story. This turned into the novel Carrie. If you’re a creator of any kind, I hope you have a Tabitha in your life because losing something like Carrie to the trash bin would be a shame.

With the pages rescued, the novel was a smash hit. Brian De Palma read the book and convinced the movie studio to let him direct the film. Sissy Spacek stars as the titular character. We owe that performance to her husband convincing her she should audition.

While the novel was well received, the film was an absolute juggernaut. The movie had a budget of $1.8 million but earned a whopping $33.8 million. It also garnered an Oscar nomination for Spacek and one for Piper Laurie who plays Carrie’s mother, Margaret.

There are some issues with the film but this is the best adaptation of the book. And it’s a horror classic. The movie makes any top 100 horror film list. I’d say it’s one of the top 10 films you have to watch if you want to understand modern horror cinema.

There are break out performances, utterly iconic scenes, and an antagonist who is impossible to forget. People still consistently cosplay as Carrie at conventions and on Halloween for good reason. So, let’s take a closer look and see why this is such an enduring classic.

What is Carrie (1976) About?

At its core, Carrie is about the struggle to fit in. It’s about growing up while leading a sheltered life. It also touches on themes of bullying, child abuse, religious zealotry, and violence. There are different ways the film can be interpreted but the basic plot is a sheltered girl with telekinetic powers is driven too far by those who are cruel to her.

This leads to major consequences for not only Carrie but everyone around her. By the end it’s an out and out horror story but just who the monster is can be a little less obvious if you’ve only seen the film posters.

A Cruel Start

From the first scene we know Carrie struggles to fit in. She’s a high school girl in gym class playing volleyball. The opposing team decides to direct the ball at Carrie, figuring she won’t hit it back. Carrie’s own teammates warn her not to blow it.

Anyone who is not athletic and has struggled in gym class can relate to what happens next. Carrie cowers from the ball and her team loses the game. The girls head to the showers.

The shower scene is where there are some issue with the film. Girls are getting showered and dressed to head back to their other classes and let’s just say there is more gratuitous nudity than necessary, especially considering these are supposed to be high school aged girls.

However, the scene is key to the film. As Carrie showers, she starts menstruating. For her, this is the first time this has happened. Due to her extremely fundamentalist mother, Carrie does not know what is happening and thinks she’s having a medical emergency.

Carrie begs for help but the girls in the locker room shout at her and throw tampons at her as they shout, “Plug it up!” It’s high school bullying at its most vindictive. Eventually a teach comes in and settles the situation down. But even as she is trying to get control of the situation, the teacher slaps Carrie. Soon a light in the shower bursts. This is the first sign we see of Carrie’s telekinesis.

The Cruelty Continues

After going to the principal, Carrie is allowed to head home for the day after the trauma she just endured. But even in this scene, the principal keeps calling her Cassie Wright instead of Carrie White. And the gym teacher even confides to the principal she was annoyed with Carrie.

It’s obvious school is no picnic for Carrie but her home life is so much worse. On the way home a little kid shouts “Creepy Carrie” at her. Carrie looks in the direction of the kid’s bike and he topples over. This is just a hint of where Carrie might go if pushed far enough.

The first glimpse of Carrie’s mother is when she tries to pass on Christian religious materials to her neighbor. Margaret doesn’t take a gentle hint, or a polite no. She’s offered a donation and takes it. But she doesn’t leave without an aggressive, “I pray you find Jesus.” in her neighbor’s face.

It turns out the daughter of this neighbor is Sue Snell who is the closest thing Carrie has to a friend.

Anything But Mother of the Year

At home, Margaret gets a call from the school. You can see on her face that Carrie is terrified. Carrie asks her mother why she didn’t tell her about what happened to her in school. Margaret, being the worst parent imaginable, slaps her kid and forces her to recite passages from her religious tract condemning intercourse. Carrie continues to protest that she should have been told. But Margaret is convinced Carrie has sinned. She locks Carrie in a tiny closet. Margaret’s treatment of her child is vicious.

All Carrie has to keep her company is a carved statue of a crucified Jesus. The positioning of the statue foreshadows a later scene. But suffice to say the carving is bloody and disturbing. If this is just a glimpse into her home life, we know Carrie is living through hell.

After going to bed, Carrie looks in her mirror and it shatters. This isn’t something Carrie can control. And it gets worse when she’s emotional.

Not Everyone in This Town is Horrible

The next day, Carrie is in English class. The teacher reads a poem written by one of the students, Tommy. The teacher asks for criticisms to which Carrie states, “It’s beautiful.” Then the teacher makes fun of Carrie in front of the whole class. While Tommy may not like Carrie any more than anyone else does, he hates the teacher’s attitude. Under his breath he says, “You suck.” But he covers it up enough to not get in trouble.

The gym teacher gathers the girls who made fun of Carrie and rips right into them. She tells these girls she wants to suspend them and take away their prom tickets. But, the office thinks one week’s detention with the gym teacher is enough. We also learn Sue Snell is going to prom with Tommy Ross, the boy from English class. And side note, Tommy is played by William Katt so he was heroic before becoming The Greatest American Hero.

The girls are warned if they don’t make it to detention, the three day suspension and loss of prom is the consequence. The gym teacher has it out for Chris Hargenson who is the main ringleader in bullying Carrie. The teacher even slaps Chris when she refuses to continue exercising.

This teacher thinks slapping is the answer to deescalating conflict. This is not going to work out well for her. And again, these are high school girls so this teacher should be fired, no question. At least she knows what those girls did to Carrie was inexcusable.

Chris tries to get all the girls to walk out but Sue tells her to shut up. Chris, however, is out of the prom. This will set things in motion for the most iconic scene in the film.

A Kind Act followed by a Cruel One

Sue asks Tommy to take Carrie White to the prom. Sue knows how rough Carrie has it and realizes if Tommy takes Carrie to prom, people at school will ease up. It’s the one truly selfless thing that happens in this film. While Sue was involved in the shower scene, she regrets it. And she sees an opportunity to make up for it. She gives up what most girls her age want to do just to make someone’s life a little better.

The next scene is Chris with her boyfriend Billy Nolan who is played by John Travolta. Billy is drinking and driving and barely eludes a run in with the cops. Billy slaps Chris and they argue. By the end of the scene they’ve made up and Chris tells Billy how much she hates Carrie.

In the school library the next day, Tommy does ask Carrie to the prom. At first, she says no. But then the gym teacher sees Carrie is off in a corner by herself. She asks Carrie what is wrong and she tells the teacher she thinks Tommy is trying to trick her. The teacher gives Carrie a bit of a pep talk and some beauty tips.

The teacher doesn’t miss a beat though as she corners Sue and Tommy to find out if they really are trying to trick Carrie. Tommy goes to Carrie’s house to ask again. She agrees once Tommy says he wants to take her because she liked his poem.

Meanwhile, Chris, Billy and their buddies find a pig and kill it.

MOTHER DEAREST And Terrible STudents

Carrie is at dinner with her mother when she tells her about the prom invitation. Her mother’s response? She tosses coffee on her face and tells Carrie to go to her closet and pray. She shouts in Carrie’s face until Carrie uses her telekinesis to shut the windows and says she is going. Her mother calls her a witch and tells her this power is from Satan.

Meanwhile, Billy, Chris and her friends are rigging some kind of trap at the prom. All we know for sure is that they have killed a pig and there is a bucket involved.

Sue has to justify letting Tommy go to the prom with Carrie to some her friends while Chris is determined to be at the prom, whether she is allowed to or not.

We also get a bit of a scene of everyone getting ready for prom. Carrie even buys a pink dress and lipstick. Tommy gives her a carnation to match.

Carrie’s mother continues to be just the worst as she tells Carrie, “Everyone can see your dirty pillows.” Carrie shoots back they are called breasts and everyone has them. Her mother then tries to convince Carrie that Tommy isn’t coming and says everyone will laugh at Carrie. Carrie uses her telekinesis to force her mother to sit down.

As she is leaving her mother says, “Though shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Seriously, this woman is contemplating murdering her own daughter. Tough to be a worse mother than that.

The Prom

Hoo boy. This is a prom for the ages. it starts normal enough. Kids are dancing, the band is playing, and others are hanging out with friends. Ms. Collins, the gym teacher says hello to Carrie. Tommy asks Carrie to dance but she declines. Eventually, Tommy invites Carrie to a little get together after prom and she does agree to go.

Tommy takes Carrie onto the dance floor and teaches her to slow dance. Up to this point, it is as sweet as can be and it seems like Carrie’s fate is finally about to change. She’s on the edge of acceptance at her high school and inches away from coming out of her shell and joining society. Tommy kisses her on the dance floor in what is undoubtedly her first kiss.

Carrie asks Tommy why she is at the prom with him. Tommy says it’s because she liked his poem, but he also admits he didn’t write it. He tells Carrie he likes being there with her.

I can’t stress enough, Sue and Tommy are being kind to Carrie. That is there motivation here and what happens next is not their fault.

King and Queen

Against all odds, Carrie and Tommy are up for Prom King and Queen. Tommy convinces Carrie they should vote for themselves.

At home, Carries mom is getting even more worked up and chops carrots in what can only be described as a violent manner.

At the prom, Chris tells Billy she’s basically rigged the vote to ensure Carrie and Tommy win. And what happens when someone wins? They are called onstage to be crowned. Right under a bucket full of pig blood.

In a dreamlike sequence Carrie walks up there with Tommy as the crowd cheers her. There is no doubt this would be the best and most memorable moment of her young life. If the film stopped here, this story is nothing but hopeful and uplifting.

But we’re not stopping here. This is a horror flick. As Carrie is standing in her perfect dress with her perfect date on her perfect night, Chris lets go of the rope holding the bucket of blood. Ms. Collins watches as Carrie has her picture taken. Sue sees what is about to happen and tries to rush beneath the stage to save Carrie but she’s just too late to get there in time. Ms. Collins assumes Sue is about to do something bad and rushes at Sue and pulls her back. The blood falls. The dream is over and the nightmare begins.

A literal Bloodbath

As teenagers do, they laugh at Carrie. All her fears are realized. Tommy can be seen mouthing, “What the hell?” in anger. Then the bucket falls on his head and knocks him out.

All of the traumatizing events rush through Carrie’s head as she stands there covered in pig blood and full of anguish. She uses her telekinesis to lock all the doors, turns on the sprinklers and the room turns as red as the blood on Carrie’s dress. With the water everywhere, the electricity to the mic stand electrocutes the band. Carrie sets fire to everything and walks out of the building. It’s not clear how many people at this prom will die but there is no doubt it is a lot.

Walking home, Carrie sees Chris and Billy driving home in their truck. They had managed to escape just in time. But Carrie uses her mind to flip over and explode the car and Chris and Billy are no more.

Goodbye Mother

Drenched in blood, Carrie walks through the door of her own home. There are prayer candles everywhere. And I mean, everywhere in this house. This is anything but normal behavior. Carrie takes a bath to wash the blood off and cry. Her mother is in her nightgown and has Carrie sit down. Carrie asks for her mother to hold her. Instead of being a normal person, this woman says to Carrie, “I shoulda killed myself when he put it in me.” And we here a whole monologue about how sin never dies. And she tells Carrie, “I shoulda given you to God when you were born.” She tells Carrie they are going to pray, “For the last time.”

She stabs Carrie in the back with a knife while they pray. Look, there are a lot of memorable movie villains and many of them have a claim to be the worst. But Carrie’s mother takes the cake in this movie. She is literally the worst. The same is true in the book.

But Carrie defends herself with her telekinesis. Her mother ends up stabbed with multiple knives in the same position as the crucified Jesus from the closet she locks Carrie in.

The House Comes Tumblin’ Down

Carrie is overwhelmed with guilt and brings the whole house down on herself and her dead mother. Thus ends the tragic tale of Carrie White who was unjustly abused and bullied, had the briefest of moments to shine, and had reality crash in on her once again.

Out of everyone at the prom the only one we know who lived is Sue Snell. And she has constant nightmares.

The most iconic image from the film is Carrie covered entirely in blood. But, the second most iconic image is what happens in Sue’s dream. Sue is at Carrie’s grave laying flowers. The dream sequence has the same soundtrack and soft lighting as Carrie’s beautiful moment before the blood falls on her.

At the grave, we see the crucifix is a For Sale sign. Written over it are the words Carrie White Burns in Hell. From the soft soil, out of nowhere, Carrie’s blood covered hand reaches out and grabs Sue. She wakes up screaming and the film ends.

In Conclusion Carrie (1976) endures

There are multiple remakes of this film but Carrie (1976) stands head and shoulders above those. Why? First, the book Carrie, feels like something set in the 1970s because that is when it was written. Since this film was made in the same decade, it will feel the most at home in the time period. Second, while Brian De Palma makes a few mistakes, the directing is just about as perfect as you can get. Lastly, themes of bullying, social acceptance and isolation are all still as relevant today as they were when the film came out.

The movie introduced much of the world to Stephen King. Several themes you see over the years in his books are displayed here. There is the religious fundamentalism, the telekinesis, and a horror story set in an unexpected location. While there were plenty of horror stories before Carrie, it was rare to find one set in modern day in a setting as mundane as a high school. Also, despite Carrie doing some horrific things, she’s not the monster. She’s more complex than that and thus more relatable.

Some say the whole story is a metaphor for adolescence, for trauma, or for breaking away from parents. Others will tell you this is nothing but a horror story plain and simple. I’m not going to make an argument in favor of one or the other, except to say, if this was just a horror story, I do not think it would truly resonate with audiences for as long as it has.

More King to Come!

While this was an instant classic (and now an actual classic) it’s just a hint of what we will see from Stephen King in the future. The man has been terrifying and entertaining us for over five decades. I’m going to review a good amount of his movies this month but there is no way I will get through all of them.

Like Stephen King books and movies? Let me know which one is your favorite in the comments below!

Looking for a good King read? Check out this one!

Prom-isingly yours,

Slick Dungeon