CARRIE (1976)

Note: from Oct 2021-June 2022, the podcast was known as 21 Jump Scare and was organized in a slightly different fashion, with different awards.

Background (spoiler-free) 0:00-14:19
Discussion (spoiler-heavy) 14:20-43:00
Awards (spoilers for days) 43:01

Director Brian De Palma
Screenplay Lawrence D. Cohen, based on the novel by Stephen King
Featuring Nancy Allen, Betty Buckley, William Katt, Piper Laurie, P.J. Soles, Sissy Spacek, John Travolta

Opened: November 16, 1976
Budget: $1,800,000 (estimated)
Gross USA: $33,800,000

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS

We first meet Carrie White, a poor red-headed waif, on the high school volleyball court, where the ball is spiked in her face and she is generally being made fun of.  The bullying continues in the next scene, in which Carrie experiences her first period in the shower of the girl’s locker room, only to be screamed at by a group who throw tampons at her.  At the peak of this outrage, a light blows out, seemingly due to Carrie’s anger, and she is comforted by gym teacher Miss Collins, who, in an attempt to shame the girls for their treatment of Carrie, makes them do a week’s worth of calisthenics during detention.  This only fuels the girls’ rage towards Carrie, and they begin plotting revenge on her.  Meanwhile, at home, Carrie’s mother Margaret, a God-fearing woman, claims Carrie’s body is unclean, and throws herself into a tizzy over the idea of her daughter becoming a woman.  Frustrated by Carrie’s lack of concern, Margaret throws Carrie in a closet and asks her to pray.  Determined to either help Carrie get back on her feet OR set her up for the ultimate embarrassment, another student, Sue Snell, asks her jock boyfriend Tommy to ask Carrie to the prom, which he does, only to be refused by Carrie, who doesn’t see herself fitting in with the other girls.  Eventually, Carrie relents, accepting Tommy’s offer, and begins searching for a dress for the prom.  Little does she know, a surprise awaits her, as well as an opportunity to show the student body what mayhem the pent-up rage of a scorned teenager can exact.

EPISODE NOTES

Music from “Carrie” by Pino Donaggio, including “I Never Dreamed Someone Like You (Could Love Someone Like Me)” sung by Katie Irving.

TRAILER

AWARDS

The Tom Six Award for Most Disturbing Scene
Bradford:  Carrie and Margaret square off at the end
Eric: Carrie’s slow walk out of the gym after the prom scene
  
The Seth Brundle Award for Most Likable Character
Bradford:  Tommy
Eric:  Miss Collins
   
The Ellen Ripley Award for Character that Most Deserved to Live
Bradford: Miss Collins
Eric:  Carrie
   
The John Doe Award for Character that Most Deserved to Die
Bradford:  Chris
Eric:  Chris, runner-up Billy

The Gaspar Noe Award/Ken Russell Award for Most Gratuitous Screen Moment
Bradford: Abstaining
Eric:  Prom prep montage