I was a high school teacher for 35 years. I know first-hand how cruel teenage girls and boys can be. They often only think of using their sexual secretions as a guide. Every day, there was usually some kind of over-the-top situation that would present itself with a dramatic flair. It would escalate throughout the day until an explosion of emotions occurred. It was always moments that would leave everyone powerless and exhausted. In retrospect, I used to call these out spurts, “drama trauma.” As a teacher ages, you learn not to get involved, reflect no preference for either side, and always allow the students to diffuse their problems first. Experienced teachers usually stayed neutral unless physical harm was inevitable.
If I were being honest, I would have to admit this type of neutrality was difficult, especially if the “mob” was wreaking havoc on someone not capable of protecting or speaking up for themselves. Fragility can tear at the heartstrings, and when that happens there can appear a double-edged sword. It didn’t always end well when I tried fixing emotionally charged problems. I was usually damned if I did, and damned if I didn’t. Luckily, I never bumped into a CARRIE… otherwise I would not have lived to write this review. I am so not a fan of the horror genre, but how can anyone pass up the deliciously evil, Stephen King, 1976 tale of a young girl’s telekinetic revenge?
CARRIE was Stephen King’s first novel to be made into a feature film. He sold the film rights for a mere $2500, but he has said he had no regrets. The original movie is his favorite of all time. He thought the film was better than his book, and it launched his career into high gear. It was a huge box office success and garnered two Oscar nominations for Best Actress (Sissy Spacek) and Best Supporting Actress (Piper Laurie). It was also the first feature film that catapulted Director Brian De Palma into the Hollywood stratosphere.
De Palma (BODY DOUBLE, DRESSED TO KILL, THE UNTOUCHABLES) is a genius at what he creates. He can take the written word and soak it in pig’s blood. He sees and hears the nuances of violence and dark comedy. He paints pictures that cannot be erased from our minds. He makes the implausible seem like reality. It is scary, freaky, and his fans love every red-tinged, thoughtful gore frame. He created one of the most infamous prom nights in two weeks of shooting using only 35 takes. Pretty impressive.
Spacek as CARRIE looked nothing like the same character in the novel, yet she made it work. She was 25 when she began this project. It was her first big break due to an audition her husband got for her. The rest is history, including the nude shower scene, which introduced CARRIE to the joys of womanhood. Spacek made that shower stall come alive with her pitiful cries for help without another actress on set. Brilliant acting. Every woman got it. Spacek is such a consummate actress that when she was covered with blood at the prom, she didn’t want to destroy continuity, so she slept in her nightgown for three days until filming was complete. She also did not socialize with the cast until the film was finished. She said she needed to stay within that isolated space to capture CARRIE’s loneliness. Now that’s dedication?
Piper Laurie as her mom was insanely magnificent as the deranged religious fanatic. She brought so much depth to her role. The wildness of her facial features overpowered every frame. Audiences were mesmerized by such a sicko.
Amy Irving portrayed Sue. Her final scene was hysterically perfect. Her real-life mom (Priscilla Pointer) played her movie mom, and in those last moments, she called out to her daughter using her given name, but audiences never heard her flub with the music taking over, and it was used in the final cut. It was a true mother/daughter moment. Irving met her future husband, Stephen Spielberg, on set. He would often visit De Palma and try to pick up girls. Amy was the only one who agreed to go out with him.
The entire ensemble was a match made in heaven, including John Travolta, William Katt, Betty Buckley, and P.J. Soles. This was Travolta’s first feature film. He was very current and popular as Vinnie in WELCOME BACK KOTTER. The high school’s name in the film was taken from Hitchcock’s PSYCHO…Bates High, and the four key, eerie, scratchy, violin notes from the same movie were used over and over through tense seconds. The coolest silence was when the bucket fell at prom. There was no music, no sound of gasps or laughter or shrieks. Audiences only heard the rolling bucket on the ground while watching this horror unfold. It was simply a genius effect that will never be forgotten.
CARRIE is a terrifying, adolescent classic. It masterfully shows how one incident can advance until it becomes unstoppable. It allows a peek into the sometimes-crazed world of young teens who have not learned to control their impulses. Today, within our society, the stakes are even higher with all the mass shootings taking place across our country. CARRIE is a visual hotbed of what can happen when humanity forgets its ability to diffuse and change course. I am grateful every day that a CARRIE situation never entered my classroom, and I am humbled by such a stunning, horrific film that stands the test of time as one of the greats.
CARRIE is available on MAX.
