Very good horror/drama

Rating: 8/10 (18 November 2001)

"Carrie" is a movie that launched alot of careers. The movie is based on a novel written by a then unknown horror writer named Stephen King (I believe "Carrie" was his first novel). Director Brian DePalma became famous for directing movies with a Hitchcock-style theme (he'd go on to direct "Dressed to Kill", "Blow Out", and "Body Double"). Sissy Spacek, who plays the title role, received her first Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance as an unpopular girl who's teased continuously by her classmates but then turns the tables on them by using her telekinetic powers as a source for revenge. John Travolta, Amy Irving, and Nancy Allen would go on to bigger projects (Travolta and Allen both teamed up with DePalma for "Blow Out", and Allen also starred in "Dressed to Kill"). And Piper Laurie returned to the big screen as Carrie's religious fanatic mother (she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress). "Carrie" is one of the better movies based on Stephen King material. It starts off as a strightforward drama, has a few darkly comic moments in between, and ends as a disturbing horror film. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, "Carrie" is still effective, thanks in part to the good performances by the entire cast, good screenplay adaptation, and good direction.
*** (out of four)