Carrie (1976) DVD Reviews

Starring	Sissy Spacek, John Travolta, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving
Director	Brian De Palma
Genres	Horror, Teen

Critics' reviews (3) of Carrie
View all
Brian De Palma's modern gothic fairy tale, based on Stephen King's bestseller, offers a tense and lyrical web of emotions. Sissy Spacek is heartbreaking as the telekinetic Cinderella who turns her school prom into a bloody massacre after a macabre joke is played on her by vicious teens (including John Travolta). Piper Laurie as Spacek's religious fanatic mother is equally striking and her symbolic “crucifixion” is a thrilling highlight in an unforgettable package of pop psychology and psychic phenomena. Despite a much-copied plot, and even more copied shock climax, De Palma's best movie remains a transfixing experience.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Stylish but unattractive shocker which works its way up to a fine climax of gore and frenzy, and takes care to provide a final frisson just when the audience thinks it can safely go home.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Unlike other Hollywood virtuosos, De Palma's central inspiration remains unashamedly the horror film and its thundering... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 15 May 2009
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Carrie
View all
28 out of 31 people found this review helpful

Tense thriller

Tense horror about a bullied school-girl with telekenetic powers.

Sissy Spacek plays the girl, a quiet outsider whose religious mother has alienated her from her classmates, yet who is convinced against her instincts to atend the High School prom - with dire consequences for all concerned.

Sissy Spacek plays her part well, and the portrayal of the heroes and villains in the high school environment is convincing. Meanwhile director Brian De Palma builds the tension to a crescendo: the sense of impending disaster almost unbearable by the time it happens. Subtle yet powerful. Recommended.
- - JonofFinsbury from London
  - Posted 18 Oct 2005 19:26
11 out of 16 people found this review helpful

one word

this film is rubbish the most rubbish film i have ever seen
- - DAVID JACKSON from packington
  - Posted 03 Aug 2006 17:50
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

Carrie

I first saw this film years ago and could not really remember alot about it except for the scene where the school prom goes up in flames. Therefrore i decided to give it another go. This is a film i feel is up there with the Omen and Exorcist that was typical for a 1970's Horror/Thriller film and often seems better than the modern fims done with technology.

Sissy Spacek does very well as Carrie(even if she does look like Michael Jackson!)a girl who is bullied by her class mates and decideds to get her revenge.

Well worth a look and is in my opinion a classic.
- - Paul Gager from Pontefract, England
  - Posted 01 May 2005 10:06
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Carrie
View all
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

Carrie

I first saw this film years ago and could not really remember alot about it except for the scene where the school prom goes up in flames. Therefrore i decided to give it another go. This is a film i feel is up there with the Omen and Exorcist that was typical for a 1970's Horror/Thriller film and often seems better than the modern fims done with technology.

Sissy Spacek does very well as Carrie(even if she does look like Michael Jackson!)a girl who is bullied by her class mates and decideds to get her revenge.

Well worth a look and is in my opinion a classic.
- - Paul Gager from Pontefract, England
  - Posted 01 May 2005 10:06
11 out of 16 people found this review helpful

one word

this film is rubbish the most rubbish film i have ever seen
- - DAVID JACKSON from packington
  - Posted 03 Aug 2006 17:50

28 out of 31 people found this review helpful

Tense thriller

Tense horror about a bullied school-girl with telekenetic powers.

Sissy Spacek plays the girl, a quiet outsider whose religious mother has alienated her from her classmates, yet who is convinced against her instincts to atend the High School prom - with dire consequences for all concerned.

Sissy Spacek plays her part well, and the portrayal of the heroes and villains in the high school environment is convincing. Meanwhile director Brian De Palma builds the tension to a crescendo: the sense of impending disaster almost unbearable by the time it happens. Subtle yet powerful. Recommended.
- - JonofFinsbury from London
  - Posted 18 Oct 2005 19:26
11 out of 16 people found this review helpful

one word

this film is rubbish the most rubbish film i have ever seen
- - DAVID JACKSON from packington
  - Posted 03 Aug 2006 17:50
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

Carrie

I first saw this film years ago and could not really remember alot about it except for the scene where the school prom goes up in flames. Therefrore i decided to give it another go. This is a film i feel is up there with the Omen and Exorcist that was typical for a 1970's Horror/Thriller film and often seems better than the modern fims done with technology.

Sissy Spacek does very well as Carrie(even if she does look like Michael Jackson!)a girl who is bullied by her class mates and decideds to get her revenge.

Well worth a look and is in my opinion a classic.
- - Paul Gager from Pontefract, England
  - Posted 01 May 2005 10:06
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful

It's Good - But It's Not Right...

After reading the awesome Stephen King novel, I expected a lot from this film, and it delivers - sometimes. No matter how much the screenplay sways from the original story, this film still holds some very memorable scenes and frankly disturbing imagery. Sissy Spacek opens her eyes as wide as possible, as looks pretty freaky - as she should.

I just couldn't help feeling that the director rushed through the whole 'climatic' scene at the ball too fast, more time should have been spent showing Carrie's pain, and ultimately her wrath, not just on the school, but on the whole town, as in the book. But that's just my opinion.

This doesn't detract from the film that much though, this is still a very stylish, intense horror movie, that will scare a fair few viewers out of their skins. I just couldn't help wanting more....
- - MattBurn from Notts
  - Posted 05 Nov 2004 09:31
6 out of 10 people found this review helpful

rubbish!!

This film really is the worst film ever, it shouldn't be classed as a horror, i dont recommend it to anyone!
- - A customer from warrington
  - Posted 15 Sep 2006 14:17
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Carrie

Not what I thought it was going to be at all - could hardly call it a horror movie until the last 15 minutes. Was midly enjoyable but doesn't begin to compare to the book. I imagine that most Stephen King fans would be disappointed.
- - A customer from Swansea, Wales
  - Posted 11 Apr 2005 14:12
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

A true horror classic!

Not my favorite Stephen King book, but deffo the best movie from one of his novels. Though it doesn't really follow the original story Brian De Palma's adaption is one of those films you can watch over and over without it ever getting tedious. Sissiy Spacek steals the show as Carrie,the picked upon schoolgirl and abused daughter of a religious nut who finally snaps and seekd revenge on her tormentors. A very moving and at times creepy film. Excellent music score, brilliant acting (Piper Laurie in particular) and unforgettable climax make this a must-have in any horror fans collection! Forget the remake (rubbish!) A true classic piece of cinema! 10/10
- - gav worlledge from Bedford, England
  - Posted 07 Mar 2005 10:50
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

let down

i turned this off not even halfway through. disappointing.
- - sarah whitehouse from west midlands, england
  - Posted 23 Feb 2007 14:21
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Nothing compared to the book..

A good film, but from reading the book I had high expectations. Even though it's an old film, it just didn't manage to portray her powers in any kind of special/eerie way or the magnitude of them, and just didn't have enough dramatic impact.

I also found that it missed out a lot of core elements that made the book, and the character of carrie so likeable, like her history and the extent of her inner anxiety/torment.

The climax, although well done visually, was also a little disappointing, and just didn't manage to capture the amount of rage that came across in the book.

For people who haven't already read the book, I would recommend the film on the basis that the acting, story line and visual effects are quite different. But for those with knowledge of the book, I would advise just a re-read, as it has much more impact than the film.
- - evilempress from Worcestershire
  - Posted 13 Oct 2005 18:33
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

very good

excellent film watched it several times
- - A customer from MANCHESTER
  - Posted 05 Jul 2008 22:48

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Critics' reviews (3)
Brian De Palma's modern gothic fairy tale, based on Stephen King's bestseller, offers a tense and lyrical web of emotions. Sissy Spacek is heartbreaking as the telekinetic Cinderella who turns her school prom into a bloody massacre after a macabre joke is played on her by vicious teens (including John Travolta). Piper Laurie as Spacek's religious fanatic mother is equally striking and her symbolic “crucifixion” is a thrilling highlight in an unforgettable package of pop psychology and psychic phenomena. Despite a much-copied plot, and even more copied shock climax, De Palma's best movie remains a transfixing experience.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Stylish but unattractive shocker which works its way up to a fine climax of gore and frenzy, and takes care to provide a final frisson just when the audience thinks it can safely go home.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Unlike other Hollywood virtuosos, De Palma's central inspiration remains unashamedly the horror film and its thundering... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 15 May 2009

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop

- - Buy
- Carrie
  
  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. ...