Brilliantly-done tragedy

Rating: 9/10 (22 August 2001)

Almost everything about Carrie is brilliantly done. It is a tragedy in the fullest sense, with the outcome inevitable from the start. Sissy Spacek's faultless performance seems to have the ability to make almost every viewer (male or female) empathise with her character, and the result is a sad film, but a genuine emotional experience. The supporting cast hardly put a foot wrong (Piper Laurie is particularly memorable) and Pino Donaggio's music is just right. As a 1970s film, it has dated only in that the styles of clothing and some of the attitudes now seem rather comical.
I was dismayed to see another comment on the IMDb that the film was poor because there wasn't enough gore! I feel this person has totally misunderstood what good horror films are (or should be) about.
Perhaps the only wrong note is the shock ending, which is admittedly effective. This tends to undermine everything that has gone before, by portraying Carrie as a monster. By that time it should be obvious to an intelligent viewer that she is the main victim in the story.