Carrie (R, 1976)

Although it's billed as a horror movie, CARRIE is just as much a poignant story of a bullied, lonely teen. With her stringy hair, mousy appearance and beaten-down posture, Sissy Spacek gives a heartbreaking performance as Carrie, who is tormented by her high school peers and abused and extremely sheltered by her religious-zealot mother. Meanwhile, Carrie struggles to understand the power she has to make objects move with her mind (telekinesis). She experiences a brief period of happiness after a popular boy asks her to the prom and a concerned gym teacher (Betty Buckley) takes Carrie under her wing. But that happiness is short-lived thanks to a cruel prank, and Carrie unleashes her telekinetic powers in an explosive act of revenge.

Probably the best film adaptation of a Stephen King novel, Carrie helped launch the careers of several young performers, including Spacek (who received an Oscar nomination), Amy Irving, John Travolta, and Nancy Allen. Almost painful to watch, the opening shots of a volleyball game and the girls' locker room depict the vicious bullying Carrie endures. The climactic prom-night scene begins with a breathless, Cinderella-like feel; the interaction between Carrie and her date, Tommy (William Katt) is sweet and hopeful, and Spacek looks radiant. This scene, however, becomes terrifying after some cruel bullies send Carrie over the edge. Director Brian De Palma's use of a split screen, combined with the music and Spacek's chilling transformation, creates an unforgettable scene of carnage.

Veteran actress Piper Laurie is disturbing in her Academy Award-nominated role as Carrie's holy-rolling, psychotic mother. Buckley's character, Miss Collins, emerges as a protective, encouraging influence; her scenes with Carrie are tender, bittersweet, and sadly futile. But it's Spacek's sensitive portrayal of a troubled girl that elevates this movie beyond mere horror.

Studio: MGM/UA
Director: Brian De Palma
Cast: John Travolta, Piper Laurie, Sissy Spacek
Genre: Horror
Run time: 98 minutes
Theatrical release: November 3, 1976
DVD release: August 28, 2001
MPAA Rating: R