Carrie (Special Edition) | 
 enlarge | Director: Brian De Palma
Actors: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, John Travolta, William Katt
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $2.00
You Save: $12.98 (87%)
(as of 9/5/10 06:48 PDT - Details)
New (52) Used (48) Collectible (4) from $2.00
Rating:  327 reviews
Sales Rank: 3704
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Running Time: 98 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: 027616865519
ISBN: 0792850440
UPC: 027616865519
EAN: 9780792850441
ASIN: B00005K3NR
Theatrical Release Date: November 3, 1976
Release Date: August 28, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
A young girl with telekinetic powers is the school wallflower and she bears the brunt of her classmates jokes. Blood runs rampant when she gets her re
Amazon.com
This terrifying adaptation of Stephen King's bestselling horror novel was directed by shock maestro Brian De Palma for maximum, no-holds-barred effect. Sissy Spacek stars as Carrie White, the beleaguered daughter of a religious kook (Piper Laurie) and a social outcast tormented by her cruel, insensitive classmates. When her rage turns into telekinetic powers, however, school's out in every sense of the word. De Palma's horrific climax in a school gym lingers forever in the memory, though the film is also built upon Spacek's remarkable performance and Piper Laurie's outlandishly creepy one. John Travolta has a small part as a thug, De Palma's future wife, Nancy Allen, is his girlfriend, and Amy Irving makes her screen debut as one of the girls giving Carrie a hard time. --Tom Keogh
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 327
 Truly horrifying and scary... makes you think. March 24, 2000
D. Litton (Wilmington, NC)
23 out of 25 found this review helpful
Seeing this movie on cable is nothing compared to actually seeing it uncut and rated R. Unlike the ludicrously-conceived sequel, which hit theaters in 1999, this movie does not have a strong emphasis on blood or gore, and there is an evident emotional factor as well. The viewers can actually sympathize with Carrie White as she goes through her adolescent period, endures the hardhips of being the center of ridicule and banter, and her feelings of happiness when Tommy asks her to the prom. Sissy Spacek plays her character to a T, making the emotions believable and realistic. Piper Laurie, who plays her mother, is the pinacle of the tight-fisted parent who allows for nothing degrading to enter into her child's life or mind. Brian de Palma has truly done a marvelous job in recreating the Stephen King classic, and while some factors of the movie and the book differ at different times, there is still a remaining quality of justice done to the novel. This movie will also make some people think twice before making fun of anyone again. To all who see this, I hope you enjoy it.
You can't just look at this as a horror movie anymore June 14, 2007
Chris D. Bates (Redondo Beach, CA)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
This is one of my favorite films. If you've never seen it how lucky you are to still have it ahead of you! If you haven't seen it for years, and remember it as just a dumb teen horror movie, you have the pleasure of discovering how well made and acted it is.
I was one of those who just thought this was a dumb teen horror movie, and was thus surprised when it was the first film we studied in one of my college film courses. Learning how deftly layered and brilliantly directed this movie is was in large part my first awakening to how interesting and well-done horror and other dismissed genres can be.
Although this film was considered horror when it came out, now, more than 20 years later, I think you have to look at it as more of a macabre tragic drama, because certainly no one will be scared by it. Many on the IMDb complain that "nothing happens" in the first hour, which I blame on its continuing place in the "horror" genre. Unfortunately, those people are missing all of the character development and thematic content that makes the ending so moving to those who have followed it.
The film is unflinching in its portrayal of female jealousy and sublimated sexual rage. The appearance of Carrie's powers coincides with her first period, i.e. the onset of sexual maturity. The following events are all about sexual attraction and jealousy, following Carrie's emergence as a woman, the dynamics of the other girls at school and their sexual/romantic intrigues, and the White family's bizarre sexual mores. The drama with the girls at school is all about dates and sex and going to the prom. Carrie's sympathetic gym teacher tries to get her to wear makeup and pay more attention to her hair. Meanwhile, Carrie's mother equates her menstruation with acceptance of sin, and later refers to her breasts as "dirty pillows." Once you start to look at it this way, you'll be surprised at the number of incidents and bits of dialogue that relate to this theme, and how carefully focused the entire screenplay is.
Sissy Spacek's performance really is multi-layered and heartbreaking, and gets better the more you get into the film. The early scenes at the prom, when you see her trying her best to get out of her shell, and how scared she is of being hurt, are all the more tragic knowing what is going to happen to her a few minutes later. When she is announced as Prom Queen, you see from the look on her face that she has finally come to believe that she has been accepted and liked. That the image of her walking silently through the burning school still remains so iconic and startlingly creepy is testament to her performance and this film's power.
The other amazing thing is DePalma's direction. The sequence beginning with the announcement of Carrie as Prom Queen is a masterpiece of building tension -- notice the music and editing as the sequence gathers speed, culminating with the spilling of the blood. You will also notice that this entire sequence is dialogue-free. It is so tight, audacious and over-the-top that you have to admire it. I know DePalma later expressed regret over the split screen effect, but I remember how effective it was when I first saw the film -- it left me feeling like so much is happening at once that you couldn't possibly take it all in. It's really overwhelming and distancing at the same time -- as opposed to most horror films that try to bring viewers INTO the terror.
The mere fact that this movie is still around almost 25 years later is a testament to its brilliance. It is much more respected now than when it first came out-- in part I think because the "horror" label worked against it. Look at the horror aspects the way they should be -- as a metaphor-- and you'll start to get into it. The closer you look the better it becomes.
I Can See Your Dirty Pillows!!! June 16, 2004
Sheila Chilcote-Collins (Collinswood, Van Wert, OH USA)
35 out of 42 found this review helpful
Stephen King's first novel that was adapted into film version is quite true to the author's words. While Stephen King was less than pleased with the film version of his malevolent masterpiece, "The Shining", King was quite happy with Brian De Palma's direction and his vision with "Carrie".
Sissy Spacek in her debut role as the freakish, shy and telekinetic Carrie White. Sissy beat out Melanie Griffith and Carrie Fisher for the title role that launched her career. The beautiful Piper Laurie is cast as the ravenous religious fanatic, stark-raving, bible beating, madwoman and Carrie's mother, Margaret White who chastises Carrie relentlessly and has a penchant for locking her daughter in the closet with a really creepy, crucified Jesus statue and candles so that Carrie may repent of her evil, sinful and womanly ways. Amy Irving as the well-to-do town doctor's daughter Sue Snell and Amy's real-life mom, Priscilla Pointer as the "cocktails at five socialite", Mrs. Snell. William Katt plays Tommy Ross who asks Carrie to The Bates High School Senior Prom, the butch, Betty Buckley as the ultimate in P.E. teachers from Hell, Miss Collins, Nancy Allen , Brian De Palma's wife as the horribly cruel and self-absorbed, Chris Hargensen, John Travolta as the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, Billy Nolan and P.J. Soles, the "whore" from Halloween as Chris' best friend and partner in crime, Norma Watson. Even a young Edie, (Grace from Ferris Buehler's Day Off and the car rental lady from Planes, Trains, and Automobiles) has a bit part. The real star here, however, is Brian De Palma's direction and the cinematography in "Carrie". The opening shower scene rivals "Psycho", the Senior Prom dance scene makes the viewer dizzy no matter how small a screen you watch it on, the split-screen King and Queen and ensuing bloodfest is masterfully directed and shot along with the dream sequence that was filmed backwards in the end. However, my favorite scene is where Margaret White is crucified a la "creepy Jesus statue" style, by her own daughter! A Top 10 Horror Film In My Book! Happy Watching and Unpleasant Dreams!
One of the genre's best! September 23, 2008
J. Arena (Williamsburg, VA)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Steven King's novel depicting the trials of a bullied girl blossoming into womanhood while being victimized by a deranged mother is a masterpiece.
At school, the misfit Carrie White is friendless. Her feminine beauty is invisible to her classmates, who view only her inability to meet the standards of adolescent society. At home, the harassment tears her soul apart. Her mother is a deluded, man-hating and sexually repressed sociopath who unleashes her repressed sexuality by sadistically inflicting punishment on her blossoming daughter in the name of "Jesus."
When Carrie, ignorant of the facts of life, experiences the onset of her period at school, the scene is set for the perfect storm in horror movie history. Carrie believes that she is dying. Her classmates, like the pack of animals that they are, sense blood and go on the attack. At home, it becomes yet another means for the sadist to humiliate her prey. The school is ultimately clueless as to how to address the issue, thereby providing the perfect battlefield for the Armageddon to come.
Carrie is emotionally powerful horror film, an outstanding metaphor for the trauma of adolescent change, and no other film matches it's perfection.
An Unforgettable Horror Film And Tragedy August 7, 2001
Steven Kuroiwa (San Francisco, CA USA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
I am somewhat of a Brian DePalma fan and saw an edited version of the director's "Carrie" on CBS Network-television in 1978. I recently saw an uncut version of this film. "Carrie" is one of the greatest horror films and tragedies in movie history.Socially awkward high school student Carrie White(Sissy Spacek) uses telekinetic powers to get back at her vicious classmates and religiously fanatical mother(Piper Laurie). "Carrie" rivals "Dressed To Kill" as Brian DePalma's greatest thriller. This movie is the ultimate revenge fantasy for anyone who was picked on during their school days. Both Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie should have won Oscars for their magnificent performances. Spacek gives an unforgettable performance. Laurie is almost charismatic as the domineering and crazed Margaret White. This character offered the perfect comeback role for Laurie after her fifteen-year absence from the big screen. Nancy Allen's malicious Chris qualifies as one of the greatest villainous characters in movie history. DePalma made "Carrie" when he still knew how to make great movies. In recent years, DePalma has not only forgotten how to scare and shock viewers, but he has even forgotten how to make his audience feel genuine emotions. DePalma forces viewers to empathize with the pain and anguish of Carrie White. "Carrie" is a tragedy as well as a horror film. Perhaps no other film director has more realistically depicted adolescent cruelty than DePalma did in "Carrie." The shock conclusion will jolt viewers right out of their seats. DePalma's "Carrie" is very well-recommended.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 327
|
|
|
