Brian De Palma had been making feature films for almost a decade before he made Carrie in 1976, but it was this film that became his first blockbuster and really pushed him to the next level. By making an adaptation of the first book by an up-and-coming writer at the time, Stephen King, and turning it into a very effective and frightening psychological horror film, De Palma created a classic that is nearly as effective (if a bit dated) as it was when first released. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our 1976 series with Carrie. We talk about De Palma and his filmmaking style, particularly how he uses the film tools at his disposal to enhance the genre in which he’s working as well as to explore the boundaries of what he can with the medium. We chat about the wonderful actors, from Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie all the way to down to Edie McClurg, and how wonderful they all are, if not quite frightening in how they represent roles in our collective bad high school memories. We discuss the nature of the filmmaking style, balancing the worlds of innocence with that of horror — good versus evil. And we talk about some of De Palma’s regular collaborators and what they bring to the table, from composer Pino Donaggio to art director Jack Fisk. It’s a great horror film that has stood the test of time and we have a great time chatting about it. Tune in!
Film Sundries
- Original Script
- Original theatrical trailer
- Original poster artwork
- Carrie — Stephen King
- Flickchart
Assorted Notes & Links
- Disconnect — trailer
- The Way, Way Back — trailer
- Senses of Cinema – Myth and Magic in De Palma’s Carrie
