More than just a horror film

Rating: 8/10 (16 January 2004)

SPOILERS POSSIBLE When I first saw this film (only about three or four years ago) I was not overly impressed. It seemed to take an age to get interesting. That's why I was baffled by Stephen King's taste in films, despite what an exceptional author he may be (IT is his best novel). He supposedly loves this film, yet hates Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining', which is undeniably a masterpiece.
However having recently viewed 'Carrie' for the second time my opinion of the film has changed. It is still nowhere near the film 'The Shining' is but I do appreciate it a hell of a lot more.
'Carrie' is not just horror, in fact King and De Palma have stated it isn't horror. Of course it is horror. But it is also a teen high school 'coming of age' film. It is one of the first films to focus so intently on the goings on of the school institution and how young individuals cope with their transition into adults. This is the part I found slow first time around, and in parts still is.
However Carrie (a perfectly cast Sissy Spacek) has more problems than the average teen or even of the average bullied, loner teen in that she has a religiously obssessed and psychotic mother and, oh yeah, the power of telekinesis. This difficult stage of a young person's life is even more difficult for her but up until prom night she is able to bottle all these problems up.
The massacre of prom night is pure horror and brilliantly handled by De Palma. The tension is expertly prolonged as Amy Irving's character follows the path of the rope to the bucket of blood and then as the mob laugh in silent slo mo at Carrie's humiliation. The violence is not just Carrie letting loose all the frustrations and anger in her life but also De Palma letting loose after trying to build it all up so gradually. It's almost as if he thought what the hell, I've managed to contain this for over an hour, now i'm just gonna let her rip! The crucifiction of her mother with the kitchen utensils is equally shocking. The jump ending is excellent too.
And yet, regardless of the undoubted evil Carrie allowed herself to be taken over by (which proves her mum right with the point about her having the devil's power) we are willing her on. And that is even scarier.

It does have many flaws (such as the inadequacy of Nancy Allen and Travolta's death and the actual way the schemers get Carrie to the stage at the prom in the first place) but it is top rate horror in the final half hour. 'The Shining' has no flaws by the way.