Carrie

About Carrie

Carrie is a 1976 American supernatural horror film directed by Brian De Palma and written by Lawrence D. Cohen in his directorial debut, based on Stephen King's 1974 novel of the same name. The film centers on Carrie White, a shy, friendless 16-year-old girl, who is sheltered by her domineering, religious mother. At school, she uses her telekinetic powers to exact revenge on her classmates after they taunt and humiliate her at the prom.

Making / Production

Carrie was produced on a budget of $1.8 million. The production faced numerous challenges including budget limitations, location issues, and time constraints but De Palma's directorial expertise guided the film to its successful completion. The film's notorious prom scene was the most complex to shoot due to its special effects, requiring multiple takes and innovative camera techniques.

Actors

• Sissy Spacek as Carrie White - Spacek brilliantly portrays the bullied and repressed teenager whose inner strength translates to telekinetic power.
• Piper Laurie as Margaret White - A chilling performance by Laurie as Carrie's overly religious and abusive mother.
• John Travolta as Billy Nolan - Travolta delivered a commendable performance as the bad boy character.
• Nancy Allen as Chris Hargensen - Allen played the classic mean girl role to perfection.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Carrie was the first Stephen King novel to be adapted into a film.
• Sissy Spacek actually had herself buried underground for the final scene.
• Director Brian De Palma originally wanted another actress for the role of Carrie, but was convinced by his wife at the time to audition Sissy Spacek.

Awards

Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie were both nominated for Academy Awards for their performances in the categories of Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively. The film not only made its mark in the horror genre, but also in the larger world of cinema.

Quotes

• "They're all gonna laugh at you!" - Carrie
• "I can see your dirty pillows. Everyone will." - Margaret White

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's score was composed by Pino Donaggio, marking one of his most renown works in cinema.
• The prom scene is famously backed by "They Are Not Like Us," a hauntingly beautiful orchestral piece.