Here’s where it all begins as far as films based on Stephen King novels. Yup, we are going all the way back to 1976, and if you were old enough to be alive in 76, there’s no shame in that because your generation helped bridge the gap from Hitchcock to Wes Craven, Stephen King, and John Carpenter.
As many of you may know, there is a remake coming out in a couple of weeks starring Julianne Moore and the girl from Kick Ass. The cast is sufficient, and it is rated R. But will it be as good as the original? I have my doubts, but if it introduces a new generation to this story, I can’t truly complain. But the first 3 minutes better have lots of teenage girls in the girl’s locker room showing their tits and bushes or else I fear the movie will have lost 20% of it’s audience instantly. Ahhh, the 70’s!
So as you hopefully know by now, the story of Carrie is a simple one. Average girl, raised by raised over zealous religious mom, gets picked on in school when she has her first period, gets to go to the prom with the dreamy Tommy, while the mean kids play a practical joke on Carrie that is downright cruel. Did I mention that Carrie has telekinetic powers and when she gets emotional, she can’t always control those powers. And as we all know, when the practical joke is downright cruel and at Carrie’s expense, all HELL breaks loose. Simple plot that is easily relate-able and has quite the body count, and unlike most horror flicks where you can often sympathize with the “bad guys”, I don’t think anybody watches this and feels any sympathy for the assholes in this one. Yes, John Travolta is an asshole.
So that leads to the cast of this. Carrie is played by Sissy Spacek who played this really well, but didn’t amount to much later on in her career. The crazy mom is played by Piper Laurie and she plays the role amazing, although I think Julianne Moore may outshine her. And did I mention John Travolta plays an asshole? He is awesome in his early career. The rest of the actors are fine for what they do, I like Tommy for his hair, being the hair affection-ado that I am.
Brian DePalma directs this movie. Yes, the same dude that brought us Scarface, The Untouchables, Carlito’s Way, and Mission Impossible, ended up directing this. What a career he had. Good for him.
As for the rating….I am torn between 7.5 and 8, so in an unprecedented move for me in these blogs, I give you a 7.8 rating. Definitely recommended for people of all ages. Oh and that ending…..damn!
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