Carrie (1976)
Stars: Sassy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving
Runtime: 98 minutes
Synopsis: A shy high school student raised by an extremely religious mother discovers she has telekinetic powers.
- Performances: 9/10
Why? Both Sassy Spacek and Piper Laurie give the performances of their lifetimes in this movie as the title character and her menacing mother. They were rewarded with deserving Academy Awards nominations for their efforts, a rare achievement when it comes to the horror genre. The supporting cast (which includes a young John Travolta) was also really good but didn't have the impact the two leads had on the film.
- Screenplay: 8/10
Why? Another example where simplicity is proven to be an effective tool when it comes to making great horror movies. The story is pretty straightforward and it becomes quickly clear that the focus is to develop interesting characters the audience will feel attached to. Carrie's character is one of the most fascinating ones ever put to screen. She's both the hero and the villain in her own movie, making her hard to root for, but also difficult to hate. "Carrie" marks the first time a Stephen King adaptation is turned into a film, and I think it's safe to say that it's also one of the very best ones.
- Costumes/Makeup: 9/10
Why? Absolutely perfect. An added value to every character, highlighted in the famous prom sequence of events.
- Editing: 5/10
Why? My biggest issue with the film. A lot of cuts feel unpolished and rough. Some sound effects added feel really dated and at times ridiculous. I also didn't really understand the use of a split screen effect near the end of the film.
- Cinematography: 8/10
- Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Why? Inspired by the soundtrack of "Psycho", another iconic horror movie, "Carrie"'s score is almost as iconic and doesn't feel like a cheap rip off. Instead, it works extremely well on its own and increases the tension as it's supposed to do.
FINAL GRADE: 8/10
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