Carrie (1976)

Directed by Brian De Palma. Starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, Betty Buckley, William Katt, Nancy Allen, John Travolta, P. J. Soles, Priscilla Pointer, Stefan Gierasch, Sydney Lassick, Edie McClurg, Michael Talbott. [R]

Meek high school outcast Carrie White (Spacek) exhibits frightening telekinetic powers, which may come in handy when her cruel classmates play a devastating prank on her. Stylish De Palma melodrama, based on Stephen King’s debut novel, is part perceptive character study of a shy and bullied girl, part flashy and blood-soaked shocker right out of the school of calculated manipulation (that’s a compliment). Spacek is just right as the mousy yet luminous protagonist; Laurie is nearly her equal playing the impossible role of Carrie’s psychotically-fanatic religious nut of a mother. Individual viewers can decide on what’s more terrifying: the notorious end to prom night, or Katt’s Robert Plant-esque hairstyle. Blatantly “borrows” the screeching violin stings from Psycho on several occasions. Some teachers will enjoy living vicariously through Buckley, an educator who has no qualms about slapping her students, consequence-free. Film debuts for several cast members (Irving, Buckley, Soles, McClurg), the first major role for others like Travolta, and Laurie’s first film role since her Academy Award-nominated turn in The Hustler from 1961 (she also got an Oscar nod for this performance). Followed by a sequel, two remakes—one for TV, one for cinemas—and even a stage musical!

81/100