Intelligent film that's more than just a horror flick...

Rating: 10/10 (9 March 2001)

...Due in part to the amazing subtlety of Spacek's performance. The last 20 minutes is when the real scares start, so we'd better have something to hold our interest until then, and we do. A convincing portrayal of high school (albeit pretty dated, hey, this is the '70s!) and a subtle showing of Carrie's telekinetic ability. Sure, De Palma used up all the subtlety by the time he got to the finale but that's one of the reasons why the film is so interesting.
(SPOILERS)
Piper Laurie is great too as the religious fanatic of a mother. She really gives me the creeps! William Katt is also good as Tommy Ross, building up such a good rapport with Carrie by the end of the movie that we feel genuinely horrified as the denouement begins. This is also another point in the film's favour. We're unsure whether to cheer as the horrendously bullied Carrie gets her revenge, or be horrified at the destruction she wreaks, since some quite sympathetic characters also fall foul of her wrath (the gym teacher for one). A nice test of audience sympathies, that.
Deserves to be regarded as one of the classics of modern horror, and showcased De Palma's potential for those of us who weren't familiar with his earlier work. Excellent.