1976: Sissy Spacek As Carrie Ignites Stephen King's Reign Of Horror

By | September 3, 2018

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Left: Carrie (Sissy Spacek) loses control at the senior prom. Right: John Travolta as Billy Nolan. Source: IMDB

In 1976, Carrie made Sissy Spacek a star and kicked off the Stephen King era in horror movies. Carrie, the story of a misfit with telekinetic powers who goes berserk at her high school prom, was the first of King's writings to be made into a movie. The Shining, Creepshow, Cujo, The Dead Zone, Christine, Children Of The Corn, Cat's Eye and Firestarter would hit theaters over the decade that followed. 

Carrie was one of a handful of movies that changed the horror genre, giving audiences contemporary characters who were more relatable than the central European vampires or mad scientists who'd established the genre.

The movie went over in a huge way with audiences and rightfully so. Both Spacek, who portrayed the title role of Carrie, and Piper Laurie, who portrayed her abusive mother, were nominated for Academy Awards, showing that a genre film could include excellent acting.

'Carrie' Boosted Several Young Actors' Careers

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John Travolta and Nancy Allen in 'Carrie.' Source: IMDB

Carrie is so strongly identified with Sissy Spacek that it's easy to forget that the cast had several other young actors who went on to achieve fame. William Katt, who later starred on The Greatest American Hero, played Tommy, a popular jerk who takes Carrie to the prom, then turns out to be a good guy -- too late, unfortunately. John Travolta, who was already known for Welcome Back, Kotter and about to become mega-famous for Saturday Night Fever, played Billy, who sets up the humiliating prank that sends Carrie over the edge. The clique of popular girls who torment Carrie includes Chris, played by Nancy Allen, Norma, played by P.J. Soles, and Sue, played by Amy Irving. Irving's character (like William Katt's) turns out to be sympathetic to Carrie, but it's too little, too late.

Carrie also put its director, Brian De Palma, at the top of the list in the horror and thriller genres. His greater stature in Hollywood enabled him to take on and succeed with several unforgettable films of the '80s, including Dressed To Kill, Scarface, Body Double, The Untouchables, and Casualties Of War.