Carrie

Carrie follows Carrie White, a withdrawn teenage girl raised by an intensely religious, controlling mother. At school she endures persistent bullying and isolation, and as stress mounts she notices unexplained mental abilities tied to her emotions. Small cruelties and private fears build until a cruel prank intersects with those powers, pushing the situation into violence. The film stays focused on Carrie and the people around her, letting tension rise scene by scene while avoiding spoilers about the outcome or later twists.

Released in 1976, Carrie was directed by Brian De Palma and adapted for the screen by Lawrence D. Cohen from Stephen King s 1974 novel. The production helped raise the profiles of its young cast and marked a turning point in mainstream horror filmmaking.

At the 1977 Academy Awards, Sissy Spacek won Best Actress for her portrayal of Carrie, and Piper Laurie earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Those acting honors highlighted the film s critical recognition and helped cement its place in film history.

The prom sequence, with its shocking use of blood and sudden escalation, became one of horror cinema s most referenced images, appearing in parodies and homages across media. Carrie inspired remakes and stage and musical adaptations, and its treatment of teenage cruelty and supernatural revenge continues to be a touchstone for popular culture.

Critics and audiences praised Spacek s performance and De Palma s atmospheric direction, and the movie holds a 7.325/10 vote average from 4,171 users. Viewers often point to its themes of bullying, religious extremism, adolescent isolation and the corrupting effect of power as reasons the horror still feels emotionally charged and relevant.