Plot Details: This opinion reveals everything about the movie's plot.

"CARRIE" is still as potent a film today as it was back in 1976. Brian De Palma, adapting Stephen King's novel somewhat faithfully was able to tap into the horror that is adolescence and the pains that go with it. For anyone who was an outsider looking in, it still reverberates, and through no fault of it's own, predicted a horrifying outcome for disaffected teenagers (case in point, the Columbine high school massacre).

Part of the film's success is the acting. Sissy Spacek is excellent as Carrie White, the ugly duckling of the story who eventually blosoms into a swan at her senior prom. But the popular snobs of her school don't see her as anything else other than "Creepy Carrie", and are determined to make her stay that way. Piper Laurie as Margaret White, embodies Christian fanatacism and is part of the reason why Carrie is the way she is. Then coupled with her telekinetic powers, she is forced to use them at full throttle when he is humiliated. Nancy Allen, Amy Irving, Betty Buckley, P.J. Soles and John Travolta (in his feature film debut) round out the talented cast as Carrie's few friends and foes.

I have long admired De Palma and feels he has been shortchanged in his long and illustrious career. But his track record (DRESSED TO KILL, SISTERS, THE FURY, BLOW OUT, SCARFACE, CARLITO'S WAY, FEMME FATALE) speaks for itself. I could tell he put his heart and soul into this one -- and it shows.

Remove the horror/fantasy element and it will still be a powerful and resonant story.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age