By Sara Baalla
Copyright manchestereveningnews
A “cult classic” horror revenge flick by Stephen King is on TV tonight. Directed by Brian De Palma and penned by Lawrence D. Cohen, Carrie was based on King’s 1974 semi-epistolary novel of the same title, marking his debut published work. The 1976 American supernatural horror featured Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, a timid teenage girl who faces relentless mockery and bullying at school. She subsequently develops telekinetic abilities and employs them to exact revenge on those who tormented her. The film’s ensemble cast featured Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, Nancy Allen, William Katt, PJ Soles, Betty Buckley and John Travolta in supporting roles, reports the Express . Following its debut, Carrie achieved both critical acclaim and box office success, earning over $33.8 million against a $1.8 million budget. Three additional films in the Carrie franchise have since been produced, alongside a Broadway musical and a television special. The movie secured two nominations at the 49th Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Spacek and Best Supporting Actress for Laurie. The horror has profoundly shaped popular culture, with numerous publications hailing it as amongst the finest horror films ever created. In 2008, Carrie was positioned 86th on Empire’s list of The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time, and claimed 15th place on Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 50 Best High School Movies. In 2022, Carrie earned its place in the United States National Film Registry after the Library of Congress deemed it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. If you’ve never seen this terrifying tale, or fancy another viewing, tonight presents the perfect opportunity as it’s scheduled to broadcast on BBC Two this evening (Sunday, September 21) at 10pm. Currently, Carrie maintains an impressive certified fresh score of 94% on review aggregator platform Rotten Tomatoes, based on 80 reviews. The film also holds a 77% audience rating, with fans still expressing their admiration across social media platforms, nearly five decades after its debut. “The original classic horror film remains one of the most memorable entries in the genre. The film is still absolutely rewatchable today, not just for its horror elements, but for its emotional core. It’s one of those movies that will continue to be studied, quoted and remembered for generations to come,” one viewer penned. Another contributed: “Carrie didn’t just become disturbing, but became more horrifying and a shocking dark twist teen horror movie. The best Stephen King adaptation ever.” A third commented: “Carrie might be the ultimate high school horror revenge flick. Terrifying prom climax and shocking ending, it’s amazing.” A fourth spectator mirrored these feelings, declaring: “Carrie is a cult classic. One of the all time great films. Absolutely love it.” Carrie will air at 10pm on BBC Two on Sunday, September 21
