Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Scene of the Week: Carrie

By s. Tuesday, April 10, 2012 ,
directed by Brian De Palma
The Prom Massacre

The scene: In one of the most famous scenes in history when Carrie and Tommy get on stage as the Queen and King of the prom, Chris pulls the rope attached to the bucket with pig's blood, which falls on Carrie and knocks Tommy unconscious. Carrie, horrified, disturbed and shocked focuses her rage and her telekinetic powers of her schoolmates and even on Miss Collins, who was her friend - in her demented mind Carrie thinks she is laughing at her. De Palma used split screen here which is extremely effective - at the same time we are able to see the horror and the bloodshed and extremely frightening look on Carrie's face. Originally the entire prom sequence was shot this way but De Palma changed it. The massacre ends with Carrie setting the place on fire and walking through the door. What's adds to the horror of the scene is Pino Donaggio's score, heavily inspired by Bernard Hermann's work, who was originally set to compose music for "Carrie" but he died shortly before the making of the movie.

Related posts:

8 actresses who would be a better choice for Carrie than Chloe Moretz 
Movie Poster Appreciation 
Carrie (the review)

21 comments:

  1. I had been thinking of writing something on this scene for a while now. It is honestly one of the most brilliant scenes ever. Spacek's eyes... they bore a hole through your soul.

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    1. Her eyes are amazing, really made her look like some insane doll brought to life, so scary!

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  2. I was like... "now why did they go and do that? That wasn't nice. You people are fucked now! Kill 'em Carrie!"

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    1. I probably should have felt awful for cheering for Carrie, but I haven't.

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  3. Definitely one of my favorite horror finales. Also my favorite adaptation of a King novel.

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    1. Mine too! The first one and curiously the best one :)

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  4. :O :O :O I am so annoyed the the DVD from the uni library is not there!! I want to see this so bad, it looks so freaky!!!!

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    1. Very freaky, that particular scene has a strong Argento feel to it.

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  5. It's absolutely insane! The split screen makes it feel like the very movie itself is falling apart! Poor Carrie!

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    1. I love that efect and the mad kaleidoscope, such an iconic device from this scene. Even South Park used it :)

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  6. Indeed Pete, poor Carrie!

    I could do with those mad eyes and powers the next time someone talks too loud in the cinema!!

    Great Job Sati

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    1. Haha and use the fire extinguisher to smack them over the heads and knock the cell phones out of their hands :)

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  7. THEY'RE ALL GONNA LAUGH AT YOU!

    Christ look at those eyes - impossible to shake. I think De Palma's use of spilt-screen here is the most effective he's ever done, which is saying a lot. Sisters has an excellent split-screen sequence, but this Carrie moment is just epic.

    Great write up!

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    1. Thank you! I love Carrie the most out of all his movies, though he really made a lot of excellent films. The prom sequence is just utter briliance.

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  8. I love the split-screen. I love Sissy Spacek. I love this movie.

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  9. Sati, I must confess that I have never seen this film. Now your photos and description have me a bit scared to do so....

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    1. You feel for Carrie so in this scene you aren't as much scared. The ending is horrifying, though.

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  10. The build up before the bucket is dropped on her is so intense. I begin sweating every time I see it.

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    1. It was amazing! De Palma is such a master at building tension.

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  11. Tarantino references this scene in Inglorious Basterds in the theatre massacre, and also throws in a reference to Scarface with the slow motion gunfire as Hitler is being shot up.

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