An unsettling piece

Rating: 8/10 (26 November 2003)

This film made an immediate impact on me when I first saw it over 13 years ago, and it inspired me to read the book. Despite some inconsistencies (name and location changes) the basic premise of the film remained true to the original Stephen King novel. Here we have a female teenage outcast, bullied mercilessly throughout her school career by uncaring classmates, who for one brief shining moment finds her 'place in the sun', only to be brought down in one horrific act which sets in motion a terrifying chain of events.
Possible spoilers on the way:
The film itself is a wonderful time capsule, and the retro, '70's feel certainly adds to its appeal. The fashions, the cinematography (split screens, trippy camera angles), the somewhat stilted acting from some of the cast members and the music - a particularly bouncy snippet of was utilised in the disappointing 'sequel' - all contribute to the film's special character. Piper Laurie's shrill, repeated cry "they're all going to laugh at you!" at the film's defining point prior to Carries 'moment', coupled with Carrie's reactions are still disturbing and poignant when viewed today.
A couple of issues though, the early scenes in the girls showers were a real eye opener (I almost expected to see Bo Derek splashing around in a corner, ala '10'), while the Hollywood tendency to cast actors well above the age of the characters they played was glaringly obvious here, in the prom scenes some of the male extras were moustached or even balding!
As others have commented, Carries disposal of Miss Collins is also disturbing, her only 'fault' was allowing herself to be swept up in the cacophony of laughter prior to Carrie's holocaust.
Overall, "Carrie" is an unsettling piece, dealing with an all-to-familiar theme - teenage cruelty.