The “best Stephen King adaptation ever” with an Oscar-winning actress is set to air tonight.
Directed by Brian De Palma from a screenplay written by Lawrence D. Cohen, Carrie was adapted from King’s 1974 semi-epistolary novel of the same name, which was also his first published works.
The 1976 American supernatural horror starred Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, a shy teenage girl who is constantly mocked and bullied at her school.
She later develops the power of telekinesis and uses it to wreak vengeance on her tormentors.
The film’s cast also includes Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, Nancy Allen, William Katt, PJ Soles, Betty Buckley and John Travolta in supporting roles.
Shortly after its release, Carrie became critically and commercially successful, grossing over $33.8 million from a $1.8 million budget.
There have since been three more films in the Carrie franchise, as well as a Broadway musical and a TV special.
The film received two nominations at the 49th Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Spacek and Best Supporting Actress for Laurie.
The horror has significantly influenced pop culture, with several publications branding it as one of the greatest horror films ever made. In 2008, Carrie was ranked 86th on Empire’s list of The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time, and was 15th on Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 50 Best High School Movies.
In 2022, Carrie was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as the Library of Congress declared it as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
If you haven’t yet watched the horror, or would like to re-watch it, now’s your chance as it is set to air on BBC Two tonight (Sunday, September 21) at 10pm.
Right now, Carrie boasts a certified fresh rating of 94% on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes from 80 reviews.
Meanwhile, the film currently has a 77% audience score, with fans continuing to share their praise on social media, almost 50 years on from its release.
“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 person wrote.
Another added: “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 said: “Carrie might be the ultimate high school horror revenge flick. Terrifying prom climax and shocking ending, it’s amazing.”
A fourth viewer echoed the sentiment, saying: “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