User Reviews

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Some elements feel a little dated (This movie is nearly 50 years old!) but Carried remains a dark and unsettling horror movie that expertly builds to a memorable final act.

A really fun and well executed horror descent into madness. Gets a little boring in the middle but the final 1/3rd is as good as advertised.

The work that put Stephen King in the showcase. Its incipient reflection on bullying and religious fanaticism still retain their potential, as well as its symbolisms and its last 20 minutes. One of those that should be seen at night and with the light off, to savor it more.

A Bit of a Let Down but still a decent adaptation, considering the fact that it's Stephen King's first film adaptation.

I used to really not like this movie, but as I've gotten older it has really grown on me.

"Carrie" really redeems itself in the last act. I didn't hate it up until that point, in fact it was quite amusing at times, but it just wasn't clicking with me. I think it would have been unwatchable if it weren't for DePalma's direction. That guy knows how to make magic out of the simplest scene. I totally get why this movie is still brought up in conversations over 40 years after it was originally released. I give it a C, if you've already seen the best, but you insist on watching a movie, try this one out.

One of Brian DePalma's better movies, in fact scratch that it is probably the best film of DePalma's career, Carrie is a classic of its genre. I also think it is an example of the film being better than source material. The book, written by Stephen King, is good, the film is a classic. Carrie does have some genuine scary jolts and unsettling moments, such as the crucifixion which is thrilling and unforgettable and the ending which still shocks me. But it also has heart, as there are some poignant scenes, especially as Sissy Spacek's performance is so heart-breakingly good. Piper Laurie is also brilliant, and it was quite nice to see John Travolta too. DePalma's direction is taut, the script is tense and lyrical and the story despite being much copied never loses its impact or focus. Stylistically and visually, Carrie is a triumph too; I loved the cinematography and the scenery and the lighting just added to the atmosphere which was consistently amazing. So all in all, truly excellent movie. While it is scary and shocking, it also manages to have an edge of poignancy and humanity too. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This is a bit of a cult classic I believe - a well known horror film from the 70s. There's a lot of symbology, with religion being one of a few obvious themes, plus puberty, femininity, social isolation and self expression I suppose. I'd heard of the story before but hadn't seen the film, so I was curious to see what it'd be like. I thought the main performances were quite good, most notable by Sissy Spacek as the titular character, Carrie White. Its ironic her surname is white, given bright bloody red is the most symbolic colour in the film. I was also somewhat surprised to see John Travolta feature in this film. I thought there was some good camerawork in this film - quick zoom shots.

"Carrie" kills two birds with one stone (along with a number of characters). It works as a high school film, with the titular character being tormented by students, puberty, and an honest-to-god evil mother and the film stays grounded within this environment which perfectly builds suspense up to the final act where the film explodes into an intense thriller. The rays of hope for poor Carrie only make the climax of the film all the more gut-wrenching because unlike most cliché horror films, time is spent with these characters that populate the school and to see what happens to them is quite unfortunate. Spacek is brilliant at portraying the tormented young soul while DePalma's direction channels Hitchcock. I don't know if Stephen King wanted to have his debut novel portrayed as an Alfred Hitchcock film, but you can take that as a big compliment. "Carrie" is a knockout.

A classic that almost everyone knows the story to. I knew some of the major plot points going in, but did not know how exactly they were going to be executed. By the end of the film, I can say that it was a decent movie. Not good, but not bad either. My heart went out to Carrie. Seeing anyone go through bullying, even if it is considered the normal trials and tribulations a teenager will face throughout their adolescence, will never sit right with me. It felt overwhelming and claustrophobic to witness Carrie go through hell over and over again. I am happy that the film contains the good side of humanity - that there are good people in the world who try to make life better for people like Carrie. A bit overstretched, the plot, and a bit dated as well, but good acting by Sissy Spacek and a staple for any horror fans.

I never intended to watch Carrie but after reading so much about it's legacy and cult following, I decided to watch it. Movie's story was different for that time and could have been a better movie if there would have been better direction and execution. There were a lot of ups and downs throughout. The story was well-told but the pacing of the movie was bad. The pacing here was off, things that should have taken place didn't, or took too long to. Also, there were some plot holes and some of the characters performance were so bad. Some things in the movie were not fully explained either, it was just like story is going on without any reason. Showing climax in split screen was worst idea. Thr climax could have been so much effective but it was just fire and scream. Overall, you should not watch this movie because of it's has cult following but you should watch it if you like old time horror/ drama/ psychological thriller.

A few years ago, I saw the modern remake of this same film. Now it's finally time for this one, which I just saw a few minutes ago. Made in 1976, the film became a classic and has survived the test of time. In fact, I would say that it is one of those old horror films that any fan of the genre must see. I will not go on too long to describe the story, I think it is well known. It was inspired by an original Stephen King novel (according to the information available here, the writer really liked this film, and even considered the ending to be better than the one he had originally written), tells the story of Carrie White, a young teenager who is extremely naive and who has lived all her life under the supervision of her mother, overprotective and religious fanatic, obsessed with the sin of the flesh and the weakness of the female sex. She is the target of mockery from schoolmates and it gets worse after she panics with her first menstruation, in the gym locker room. She simply knew nothing about her own body and sexuality because the mother was sure that a sinless woman (as her daughter had to be) would never be "tainted" by the blood that, for her, was the mark of Eva's original sin. Well, things get worse from there, with Carrie discovering that she has telekinetic powers amplified by fear or anger, and an anthological ending in a prom that goes terribly wrong. The secret to the success of this film is largely due to the main character. For us, it is clear that Carrie is a victim: victim of a wicked and crazy mother who mistreats her and carries on a permanent psychological terror; victim of cynical and selfish schoolmates who never think of the reasons why she behaves that way and never give her a chance to integrate; and finally victim of an extremely rare mental power that she doesn't know well or know how to control. Carrie is never truly a bad person or a wicked being. She has no pleasure in the pain of others, she is the one who is suffering. It moves us, it causes a strong empathy with the character, which we would like to help. The way it all ends seems filled with a poetic justice that also satisfies us, despite feeling for Carrie, and seeing that she will never be understood by anyone. Sissy Spacek was extraordinary in her work and obtained, in this film, her great work as an actress. Despite continuing and making other films, it is Carrie who immortalizes Spacek and makes her memorable. She gave the character a lot of psychological depth and drama, as well as having the strength for some nude scenes so brutal, due to their harshness, that other actresses with more experience would surely refuse them without thinking twice. The film also features the participation of Piper Laurie (in the role of Carrie's mother), Amy Irving and John Travolta. Directed by Brian De Palma, a director recognized for his meticulous spirit and attention to detail, its a film with good production values and an excellent pace, with time for everything, without haste or speed. Cinematography deserves a close look with a series of truly successful moments, from the use of colors (white and red, as at the prom) to the work of the camera (the scenes at the prom, the kaleidoscope, the punctual resource to division of the screen), everything was extremely thought out and done with great care. For more than one occasion, the film "blinks the eye" to Hitchcock, the most evident feature being the famous sound effect of the film "Psycho", used here by De Palma. The sound, visual and special effects worked perfectly, even though the fire in the house, at the end of the film, makes it quite evident that the house is a miniature and not a real building, all it takes is a certain sense of scale. The costumes also deserve applause, they fit perfectly into the big picture. The soundtrack, by Pino ****, is one of the most beautiful in classic horror cinema. Truly a magnificent melody that is in the ear.

My favorite horror movie. It makes you feel her sadness, anxiety, happiness, fear, humiliation and then finally satisfaction and dread. The prom scene was the best cinematic experience anyone could ask for. Great color use, soundtrack, editing, screenplay and acting. Not even gonna talk about how amazing the story is. Good job Steven King, Brian De Palma, Sissy Spacek and everybody else that made this movie a masterpiece.

Depois de tanto tempo, terror como esse não assusta mais. A sétima arte é uma cultura apreciada de maneiras diferentes entre as demais nacionalidades e períodos históricos, sendo assim, é muito normal que um filme que foi um fracasso de bilheteria e crítica venha a ganhar espaço anos ou até décadas após sua estreia. Quanto a Carrie, acredito que tenha sido justamente o oposto. Como um fan do gênero de terror, venho buscando cada vez mais projetos ambiciosos, que exploram a mentalidade humana e trazem mistos de emoções jamais persentidas. Infelizmente, Carrie 1976 tem data de validade se você for um pouquinho mais exigente que o normal. Acredito que a sexualização, ou de forma mais vulgar - a nudez -, no filme é completamente evitável e sem propósito nenhum na trama, sendo posta de maneira gratuita. Os personagens não tem a menor profundidade, sendo resumidos a estereótipos e contradições a todo instante. O roteiro é um grande desastre e não consegue estabelecer nenhuma consistência em torno da trama. Aspectos psicológicos que poderiam ser levados a tona são completamente ignorados a sentimentos fúteis e genéricos. O trama acontece de maneira corrida, como se tivesse com algum tipo de pressa para mostrar o final. Os poderes da Carrie são postos como qualquer coisa na tela, demonstrando uma preguiça enorme em desenvolvê-los - e logo depois quase são esquecidos. As atuações são péssimas em suma maioria e não convencem ninguém. Dava até pena de ver o Travolta daquele jeito. Não há o menor clímax que o filme se esforça em dizer que tem. A cena final, que deveria ser marcante, é trabalhada num suspense barato e que precisa emburrecer os personagens para funcionar. Inclusive, porque todo mundo é tão burro e ignorante - além da conta - nesses filmes? Tudo isso me parece preguiça de escrever uma história original e minimamente lógica e crível.

It is a short, short tale about big people, heavy message and huge caliber of cast passing on the envelope. Carrie De Palma fascinates me. I love his fascination over the slow motion shots. For it is easily the most difficult thing to own and it is also the cheesiest cinematic experience you can offer to the audience. Many have come and gone and very few have managed to walk that very fine line. And I think the director Brian De Palma is up there, along with Quentin Tarantino whose old style filmmaking brings it out in him. Take Once Upon A Time In Hollywood or Kill Bill or Django Unchained. Compared to him, De Palma's decision is safer. If Tarantino is just celebrating, gloating, bragging in these shots with volume of his favorite song turned to maximum, De Palma is actually passing meticulous information, justifying his choice and keeping us engage with a spooky background score that takes over the audio. And I feel that just like The Untouchables and Scarface, the entire runtime- it is incredibly short and swift- is building towards the final slow motion showdown. And IT WORKS. You are with him throughout that sequence, biting nails, widening your eyes and shortening your breathe, it is a beautiful experience. Now, this also brings up the performance. The choreography, production and all the set pieces ought to be in sync when things are going slow, but the first and foremost priority is the performance. You have to have the best team to pull off this heist and he has got Sissy Spacek bringing this iconic role alive on screen. Flamboyantly rigid in her body language and her facial expression, she is surprisingly pulling this film up to a whole new level. For despite of Stephen King being the source, horror being the genre and tragedy being the case, never for a moment I felt uneasiness or physically distant with Carrie.

My favourite film of all time, which I must have seen getting on for 150 viewings. The iconic Carrie is astonishingly powerful and heart breaking as portrayed by the brilliant Sissy Spacek. Kudos to all the cast who were fresh at the time, although only Travolta really went on to further acclaim. Piper Laurie was already an established name from the 50's and she is supurb here. DePalma's direction is faultless. Style and confidence rule the day. Editing is fluid and Pino **** score reminds one that they really don't compose lush melodies form films anymore. A sublime fim. One to see again and again.

For me, this movie hit all of the wrong notes. I do appreciate its aesthetics, sense of camp, and Piper's performance as the titular role. However, the writing fails to flesh out likable nor understandable characters, and the gratuitous "teenage" nudity in the first scene started the movie on an eye-rolling sour note for me. The portrayals of bullying and parental abuse, for me, were lost in the no man's land between generational differences and campy hyperbole. I understand why some may love this movie, and I think it deserves its spot as a classic, but I was ultimately disappointed.

Carrie might have not aged perfectly, a few of things wouldn't fly with today's audience, but it's still a horror classic for a reason. The hardships of youth and growing up being different are given a horror outlook in a way that few movies since have managed to capture, even though many have tried. Carrie is a tragic villain and the scene you have come to watch has deserved the love it has earned since.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Para mi es simplemente excelente en todos los aspectos posibles, los personajes, las actuaciones, la banda sonora, la dirección, absolutamente todo.

Carrie, this is one of my favorite old-school horror movies, because despite the low budget and others, they managed to do a great job, without a doubt the best of Stephen King. And obviously, love the end.

Half quirky high-school comedy, half harrowing family drama, no adaptations that succeeded it have had the power to produce the shock and horror of the final act of this, the best telling of the story - arguably even better than King's book. Spacek and Laurie are perfect.

A pretty faithful adaptation of the Stephen King novel. The ending is different and nowhere near as explosive (literally) as the one in the book, and you'll also likely notice some different takes on a few characters as well. Yet, little of what made that tale so powerful gets lost in the move to the big-screen. The heartbreaking nature of the events are expertly captured and Sissy Spacek is a darn-near perfect Carrie despite being as skinny as a rail post (in the book the character is a touch overweight). She carries the heart and sole of the character with her awkward, sympathetic, and ultimately powerful performance. The movie is sure to strike a chord with anyone who has ever been bullied. It also serves as one of the best anti-bullying messages there is. No, not because Carrie eventually has her revenge on all those who tormented her. Instead it is because of the ability the story has to make us feel what Carrie feels. Her loneliness, hurt, fear, and embarrassment are channeled into the viewer thanks to Spacek. Her performance has the power to express what the character is going through beneath the surface almost as well as the words on the pages on the novel do. It's incredible stuff and makes the final act all the more riveting and crushing as we watch Carrie rise only to be let down again. As a horror movie it is both beautifully shot and not very frightening. The real terror comes not from jumps on the screen, but from the at times awful nature of our fellow human beings. The blood certainly does flow in the final act, which is both spectacular and violent, but I wouldn't go as far as calling this a "scary" movie in the traditional sense. It's the subject matter that makes it a part of the horror genre. It's also worth noting how beautifully shot this is. It's an excellent recreation of the book even if liberties have been taken and alterations have been made here and there, ensuring that it isn't a 100% faithful adaptation. These deviations aren't really a big deal. Yes, the book is a masterpiece, but this movie does so much right that it most certainly stands on it's own as it captures so much of what made the book so incredible. It's a heart-wrenching story and I think one of the best darn horror movies ever made. Certainly a contender for the best Stephen King adaptation. You owe it to yourself to see why this movie and character are so iconic. It's a quality offering in just about every way. It's emotional events and grisly finale will stick with you long after the credits have rolled. It manages to be both touching and horrifying. Human and monstrous. Just like real high-school. 9.2/10