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Movies / On DVD / Carrie
Carrie

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Carrie (1976)

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Reviews Counted:42

Fresh:38

Rotten:4

Average Rating:8.1/10

Consensus: Carrie is a horrifying look at supernatural powers, high school cruelty, and teen angst -- and it brings us one of the most memorable and disturbing prom scenes in history.

Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Synopsis: Brian De Palma's commercial breakout, based on a novel by Stephen King, helped launch a whole slew of teen-based horror films, and Carrie the blood-spattered prom queen has taken her throne in the... Brian De Palma's commercial breakout, based on a novel by Stephen King, helped launch a whole slew of teen-based horror films, and Carrie the blood-spattered prom queen has taken her throne in the pantheon of modern American myth. High school girls played by Amy Irving (in her film debut), P.J. Soles, and Nancy Allen plot to avenge themselves on ostracized fellow student and budding telekinetic Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) after they get in trouble for pelting her with tampons. When they get popular boy Tommy Ross (William Katz) to be her date for the prom, the stage is set for some heart-rending cruelty and fiery retribution. De Palma expertly uses split screens, slow motion, color filters, and tracking shots to imbue the proceedings with a haunting, allegorical elegance. Piper Laurie plays Carrie's mentally ill, devoutly Christian mom; she's brilliant, as is Spacek. John Travolta has a memorable pre-SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER role as one of the girls' beer-guzzling boyfriends. There was finally a sequel in 1999, as well as a short-lived Broadway musical. [More]

Starring: Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, John Travolta, William Katt

Starring: Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, John Travolta, William Katt, Nancy Allen, Piper Laurie, Betty Buckley, P.J. Soles, Sydney Lassick, Stefan Gierasch

Director: Brian De Palma

Director: Brian De Palma
Screenwriter: Lawrence D. Cohen
Producer: Paul Monash
Composer: Pino Donaggio

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Reviews for Carrie

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1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
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Carrie rivals The Shining for the title of greatest ever Stephen King adaptation.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
09/25/07
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The fierce sympathy it extends to its unfashionable central character puts the film a million miles above the contemporary line in sick exploitation.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Unlike other examples of the horror genre, there are classic elements of tragedy that lend this gruesome tale a compelling edge.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/17/01
Almar Haflidason
Almar Haflidason
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The reason Carrie is still held in such high regard as a horror classic is very simple: it's all in the sheer directorial bravado. De Palma at the top of his game.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
09/25/07
Andrew Collins
Andrew Collins
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
11/15/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

The film has a strikingly unsettling mood that enhances its power and gives it an impact that the story would otherwise lack. Much of the credit, though, must go to Spacek, who so convincingly portrays Carrie's pain and her longing for acceptance.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
09/25/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Young director Brian DePalma is fast making his reputation in the genre of the suspense-horror film.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
03/06/05
Barbara Thomas
Barbara Thomas
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

I might be the only person in the world who thinks Brian De Palma's 1976 classic thriller Carrie (now out on DVD) is one of the most overrated, disappointing horror films of all time, but I stand behind my review, and I swear I can knock down just about a

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
08/02/09
Blake French
Blake French
Filmcritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
11/19/03
Bob Grimm
Bob Grimm
Las Vegas CityLife

A nearly perfect film. The combination of pathos, shocks, and grand guignol excess is orchestrated with jaw-dropping precision by young Depalma, whose later films would pale by comparison.

comment Comment
03/31/05
Brian Juergens
Brian Juergens
Bloody Disgusting

Horror in the classic sense, horror that builds rather than constantly shocking, horror that works so well we don’t need a guts and gore booster-shot every two minutes.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
08/28/01
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

A total knockout. Piper Laurie gives a bravura performance as Carrie's religious fanatic mother, one of the creepiest movie characters ever.

comment Comment
01/24/06
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

No review available.

comment Comment
10/10/05
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

comment Comment
01/14/03
Dan Marcucci and Nancy Serougi
Dan Marcucci and Nancy Serougi
Broomfield Enterprise

It’s a gripping and rousing perusal of our human souls -- an opportunity to become aware of our dark sides and meet them head on.

Full Review Source: Cinemaphile.org | comment Comment
01/01/00
David Keyes
David Keyes
Cinemaphile.org

It's a simple tale, told briskly and effectively by director Brian DePalma.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
09/27/02
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

The first big hit directed by Brian De Palma.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
02/10/08
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

De Palma's Gothic thriller is at once trashy and lyrical, a nasty revenge story in which its misfit-Cinederella-like heroine (an exquisite Sissy Spacek) discovers her sexuality under the most terrifying conditions.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
05/30/06
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Carrie might be a film about high school, but it was perhaps Brian De Palma's first completely mature film.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
08/25/06
Eric Henderson
Eric Henderson
Slant Magazine

King's pulp-gothic imagination was perfectly realized on-screen in De Palma's Hitchcock-influenced manipulative camerawork

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
08/21/01
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
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