Carrie Book vs Movies (1976 and 2013)

[@LucyLioness100]

Truly an icon of horror & thankfully King’s wife, Tabitha, saved it from the bin after he tossed it out and told him to finish. And it only took 2 years to make a film version since the book became such a surprise smash hit & it’s got the best portrayal of Carrie in Sissy Spacek’s heartbreaking and vulnerable performance. That prom scene alone lives on in horror infamy thanks to DePalma’s trademark split diopter framing, the sound design, Pino Donaggio’s Psycho-inspired strings & that terrifying stare from Sissy Spacek

[@WhytheBookWins]

Yeah it's kind of crazy how fast King's career took off!

[@arthuratkins5902]

“Babe, wake up. A new Why the book wins just dropped!”

[@WhytheBookWins]

☺️

[@dontloseurhead22222]

Fun fact: Betty Buckley who played the Gym Teacher in the 1976 film also played Carrie’s mother in 1988 when Carrie was adapted into a broadway musical!

[@WhytheBookWins]

Oh wow!

[@lucasorlando99]

Everyone who auditioned for Carrie also auditioned for Star Wars because Brian De Palma and George Lucas held their auditions together so Amy Irving was almost princess Leila

[@The00Lisa00]

Another fun fact: Amy Irving was the singing voice of Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit

[@IanFindly-iv1nl]

Carrie isn't really supposed to get hassled for being UGLY anyway, but rather because she's timid and naive. Also, in the MOVIE Sue becomes sympathetic to Carrie after seeing Carrie's mother at Sue's own house talking to Sue's own mom (remember THAT scene? "These are Godless times!" "Yeah, I'll drink to that!") which makes her understand why Carrie is the way she is.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Very true!

[@WhytheBookWins]

At 11:20 I say that in the movie Chris doesn't ensure that Carrie will win, but I meant to say in the *book*

[@QueenCityHistory]

Tabitha helped him with the book. He asked her what scared her the most as a teenage girl.. she said getting your period. King always talks about what makes people uncomfortable. That’s why he’s the king of horror

[@PhilipWeisman-dl4ik]

The big "new" development in horror movie storytelling has to be the multiple ending jump scares! I mean seriously ..... Amy Irving screaming about Carrie's hand grabbing her. Plus, her film Mother was played by her real life actress Mother was also way cool.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Yeah i did think that was cool that it was her real mom!

[@KaylasBestie]

THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD (Tiffany D. Jackson) is the African American version of Carrie, which was pretty good. Ms. Jackson is one of my go to author. I wound up rating the book an 4.5. Take care ....

[@cecilhester]

Thanks for the recommendation.

[@WhytheBookWins]

I've never heard of that but I will definitely check it out, thank you! (I just got it from my library and will read it soon!)

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

I just got into Tiffany last year though her book grown and now she’s one of my favorite authors today

[@eringate]

The Weight of Blood was one of my FAVE books from last year!! Although I thought I read an article where the author clarified the story was not intended to be a direct interpretation of Carrie but was heavily inspired by it 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@anamakesthings]

This has become, BY FAR, my favourite YT channel 💚 I haven't had a TV or any streaming service for almost 2 years and I have been reading like crazy. This is my 2nd experiment of this kind to force myself into new habits (I once went 9 months without internet for funsies, as well) and I am sooooo pumped to have this channel to refer to once I'm done with the books. I think your channel got recommended as I was reading Dracula - I'm Romanian and had been putting it off for decades because of how put off I was by his innacurate (and borderline insulting) descriptions of my country. I was soooo impressed by the quality of your vids that now I'm intentionally reading books you have content on. Thank you so much for your diligent and high quality content and thank you even more for the nuance and empathy you bring when talking about sensitive issues, like addiction. Keep up the phenomenal work!!!!

[@WhytheBookWins]

Thank you so much!! That means a lot and I really appreciate that 🤗

[@RS-ry4lp]

Always a pleasure to watch and listen to

[@WhytheBookWins]

Thank you!

[@cecilhester]

Nicely done review, Laura. Take care.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Thank you!

[@lucasoliver2571]

The 1976 film is a masterpiece of horror cinema

[@LucyLioness100]

It truly was especially under DePalma & the talented cast he assembled. Even with all the trims they made to the story (with a small budget they couldn’t film certain segments like the destruction of Chamberlin), it kept the core of the story intact & got us invested in the characters whether we like or hate them

[@WhytheBookWins]

Agreed!

[@Dparish24]

Great video, as promised I'll offer you my insight why I prefer the 2013 film. To be clear I do think the book is superior over both movies. I love the case study format, it felt reminiscent of real life incidents/tragedies that occur as a result of school bullying. Speaking as someone who was bullied at school (thankfully no where as severe as what Carrie went through but still not a great experience) it meant a lot to me and the book got me through the school horrors. I felt the 2013 film captured the bullying aspects more realistically, like the pool scene where they let Carrie think they were laughing with her but instead were laughing at her. I didn't like how the 1974 downplayed Sue's role, so I was happy to see her have more screentime in the 2013 film where we get to see her show remorse before she got punished and what drove her to the idea of getting Tommy to take Carrie to the prom. I thought the way they handled Sue's pregnancy was well done, as the film starts with Margaret thinking her pregnancy is a curse and Carrie's sees Sue's pregnancy as a blessing - think it bookends it well. Also nice bookending it starts with Carrie's birth and ends with her death - from cradle to grave. I think Chloe Grace Moretz was genius casting, considering she was still young and still developing she was convincing as someone who was transitioning from girl to woman. Also with the other girls being played by older more developed actresses it does make Carrie standout in not a good way. Also Chloe's body language particularly the way she shrugs her shoulders in school reminded me of how I used to do that, so I was convinced this is a girl who was tormented. I'm not going lie when she lets out her rage and how Chloe plays it I felt right there with her, it's total revenge fantasy (emphasis on fantasy) of what I would've loved to do have done. Sorry for the long post, I could go on a lot more why I love the 2013 film but I hope you find this insightful.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Thanks for sharing! I did think it was cool they had an actual teenager play her in that version and you make a good point about the effect out makes having all of the other high school girls be played by adults. Sorry to hear about being bullied when you were a kid 😔

[@Dparish24]

@@WhytheBookWins Thank you I'm ok, I survived school hell with everyone else that's all that matters. Other little things I liked in the 2013 film - the online profile Chris creates for Carrie for favourite film Billy suggests 'Blood Sport' which is the title for the half of the book, Carrie's poem foreshadows the events, Margaret braiding Carrie's hair as a way of still keeping her a child, Margaret driving a car and having a job makes her feel more human, Chris and Billy are delayed escaping the massacre because Sue's car blocks them in.

[@JohnCastillo-t1c]

If i had to pick, it would be the the 1976 take. Even though it doesn't follow the story to a degree, it still sticks close to the book pretty much. The problem with the book is that king styled it like Dracula in a way, taking newpaper interviews and excerpts from books to tell Carrie's story. The only time he stops using this are the scenes when its just Carrie or another character. Also Sissy Spseck though she doesn't follow how how Carrie is described in the book is the perfect choice to play her. She has these eyes that really shows all the pain and torment she's put through with not only her peers, but also her crazy religous mother. Also for the famous prom scene, it's Deplama take that i always loved. Its hands down my favorite scene in any Stephen King film.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Considering he wrote Salem's Lot next, songs like he had Dracula on the brain for a while haha. And yeah, the entire prom scene is so perfect! It starts out like a dream come true only to then become a nightmare and it's all so good!

[@brownhulk2344]

The 1976 film is the go-to film for sure. I root for Carrie, but it is a very sad ending. I get the same feelings for her no matter how many times I see it. However, in the book,(which I like very much)it's different. I don't remember feeling sorry for her. I go along for the ride like it's an intriguing pop corn flick.What you mentioned about stopping the film once she wins is a good idea. What I do is visualize the actress(Sissy Spaceck) going on having a happy life and a successful career. I actually have to do that to shake that sad feeling.

[@brownhulk2344]

The tv movie is lame. The 2013 like you expressed seems like a waste of time. I turned to it once on cable and had to change it once the mom drew her own blood scratching her leg. I couldn't take it 😢

[@WhytheBookWins]

Yeah I would agree that my heart went out to get much more in the movie than the book. It's impressive how effecting the movie is, no matter how many times a person has seen it!

[@LiirThropp2687]

Carrie is one of the few horror stories that is creepy as well as absolutely heartbreaking. Poor Carrie's life was pure misery. And prom was probably the first time in her life where she ever got to be happy or enjoy anything. Ever. And even that got ruined. Her mom was deranged, her classmates were sadistic. She finally snapped. The movie really showed the tragic aspects of the story. That music as Carrie is walking up on stage, seeing her so happy. 🥺 My lip quivered a little bit. Lol

[@WhytheBookWins]

Totally agree, so heartbreaking that her one moment of happiness is ruined.

[@zigwaters0047]

I literally was hoping you covered this

[@DocHayes420]

I love this book & the original movie! Great review!

[@uhdudewhy7980]

The ending of the 1970s movie is one of the scariest scenes I've ever seen.

[@adamgreenwood9785]

I remember hearing about the movie but reading the book first and found the movie leaned far more into the gothic and religious imagery. The book reads more like an X-Men story in some ways rather than "horror". Have you seen "I am not okay with this?" - it is about a girl with similar powers but from a non-abusive background and could easily be seen as part of the same universe, especially given the ending of the book.

[@adamgreenwood9785]

I also enjoyed the way the book had news articles and dictionary entries etc from after the events interspersed with the narrative as a form of foreshadowing.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Yeah true it kind of did have an X-Men vibe 😆 And one never heard of that, I'll look it up!

[@krosewall]

DePalma always uses a lot of split diopter shots(see Blow Out for example). Carrie was already his 9th film.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Good point! He does it a lot in Black Dahlia but that is noir so I had figured that was why.

[@akaLaBrujaRoja]

I dig Blow Out, and Dressed to Kill.

[@adamgreenwood9785]

Spoiler for the 2001 version - everyone believes she is dead at the end but she is not and she drives off with her friend towards a new life. Apparently the TV movie was made as a pilot for a series about Carrie's ongoing adventures but it never got picked up.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Wow! I love that they made a big change line that and gave her a happy ending. Not that I thinking her dying is a bad ending, just a really sad one. So I appreciate that there is another version of the story where things end well 😊

[@dimplesd8931]

William Katy was so hot! I hated that he died in the movie. He was so sweet to Carrie. I was a kid when I saw Carrie on HBO and I didn’t sleep for a week. I read the book years later and for me it’s a win-win. Great book, amazing adaptation. PS Amy Irving got a big bag $100million when she divorced Stephen Spielberg for cheating on her with Kate Capshaw, his current wife. 🤑

[@WhytheBookWins]

Yeah he was sweet! And wow haha, I guess it all worked out for her in the end.

[@matterstoyou2970]

You’re not missing anything by skipping even referencing the Rage:Carrie 2; not only was the film disconnected from the novel but a majority of the ‘76 film as well only tangentially touching upon the ending barely continuing what little mythology from the text they cobbled together for a modern attempt at prolonging something always intended to stand alone. The author would have connected it to Insomnia or even Hearts of Atlantis if anything. Awesome shirt by the way 😉

[@ashlielepek]

You really should consider watching the TV version, I liked it.

[@Eric_1991]

A big issue I have with the 2013 movie was the casting of CGM. she's way too pretty to play her, not that Sissy Spacek was ugly or anything, but of the three, id say she was the most plain looking on the movies. I think CGM would have been better cast as Chris Hargenson or someone else

[@IanFindly-iv1nl]

Carrie isn't really supposed to get hassled for being UGLY anyway, but rather because she's timid and naive.

[@Pheonix5-ih8hc]

None of the actresses in any of the movie versions (including the 03 one produced for TV) has been ugly

[@blackdragon6]

The TV film actually shows the destruction of the town i think. My only complaint is that the lead actress was *OBVIOUSLY* too old for that role lol. The casting was just bafflingly weird, but otherwise pretty good.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Casting full grown adults can definitely take me out of the moment lol. (Like Buddy in Christine who looks about 40 lol)

[@yelena86]

❤❤❤

[@WhytheBookWins]

❤️

[@MistyWarden]

The very odd interpretation of the fall in Genesis being a decision by Adam and Eve so that they can have kids is wild. I remember learning that when I was LDS and it was a choice God have Eve but none of that is in the actual scripture 😂

[@WhytheBookWins]

Oh interesting, it has been a while since I read that part of the Bible I'll admit haha. But the mom here interprets the Adam and Eve story as being why women are inherently evil. And i think a lot of religions see this as Eve being an evil temptation to Adam regardless of what Eve's reasoning was.