Carrie (1976) vs. Carrie (2002) vs. Carrie (2013)

Carrie was the first novel that Stephen King published in 1974. Thanks to his wife, Tabitha who recovered the draft of the story from the trash we may not have this famous book.

Carrie cycles around the narrative of a tormented teenage girl. Living with her overly-religious mother, Margaret, Carrie is continuously bullied in school by her peers. After an embarrassing incident, Sue Snell decides to make her boyfriend, Tommy, take Carrie to the prom. Her acceptance causes an uproar among the popular crowd, especially with Chris Hargenson. Finding out that she has telekinesis powers, Margaret believes her daughter going to prom is a sin. Once Carrie arrives at the prom, it a dark evening to remember.

Since King’s book was published, three film adaptation have been released in 1976, 2002, and 2013. I have indulged in these films. The films do something different each time. At moments, they are tough to watch due to the theme of bullying. Carrie is an important story to be talked about among audiences.

The Carrie films have gone through conversation. Who played Carrie the best? Which director conveyed the best story? What element stands out across the three films?

I have watched all three film adaptation of Carrie. Through analyzations, each film is different. For me, one of the films sticks out of the three which surprisingly is not talked about enough.

Here is an analysis of the characters, story, and director’s approach.

Carrie White

Sissy Spacek (Carrie, 1976)

Spacek was in her mid-twenties when she was given the role of the teenage Carrie. Off-camera, she stayed in her character, avoiding cast and crew. Did you know that she stayed in the pig’s blood (AKA Karo syrup) for three days of filming?

Spacek does an outstanding job with Carrie, grasping her broken mind, a startling performance in the prom scene, and her quirks. Though, I felt like she is a little too social once she arrives at the prom. Throughout the movie, she is shy and has a dull personality, but all of a sudden she is very lively and energetic. Carrie even notes to her mother during the dinner scene that people, ‘find her funny.’ Does this mean that she has had moments where she has been social with the other girls, or is she taking people laughing at her the wrong way?

Overall, what is the mean reason why she wants to go to prom? Because she believes in Tommy’s word or because she wants to show her nemesis who she really is?

Angela Bettis (Carrie, 2002)

I used to harshly criticize the 2002 TV-movie version of Carrie but after some thought, it follows closely to the book. Angela Bettis sold the shy, awkward, and reserved version of Carrie. Despite being almost 30 at the time of filming, I believed Bettis as Carrie. The emotion that she bore was very realistic.

In contrast to Spacek and Moretz’s performance as Carrie, I actually felt the journey of Carrie finally standing up for herself. She throws some pretty good snarky comebacks at times, specifically to Chris. As for her telekinesis powers, in this version, Carrie has no idea what she is doing, going into a trance-like state. Whereas Spacek and Moretz were unleashing the terrors on the promgoers purposefully, I thought it was a better approach for Carrie to be unaware of what she is doing, thus fearing her powers in some way. Carrie is more vulnerable.

Bettis deserves more recognition for her role. Although Bettis quips that she was not happy with the result of the film, I believe that she sold her performance.

Chloe Grace Moretz (Carrie, 2013)

Chloe Grace Moretz was the first teenager to play Carrie. At 15. Overall, audiences and I feel that Moretz was miscast. I did not buy her as an outcast. Though she did make her version more of a coming-of-age story because she was an actual teenager.

She did not fit the role physically. Carrie is described as a mousy person who discovers how beautiful she really is once it comes time for the prom. I did not see the physical transformation that she goes through as Spacek and Bassett realize.

Overall, I feel like she didn’t firmly grasp the character. Her reactions in the prom scene were unnatural. But, I did like the relationship between Carrie and Margaret. It would have helped if she interacted with more characters other than Margaret, Desjardin, and Tommy. Conversations with Sue and Chris are missing.

Margaret White

Piper Laurie (Carrie, 1976)

Laurie’s performance as Margaret is one of the best performances of this over-religious character. She is corny, frightening, and dove into the mind of this zany character. I enjoyed her over-the-top delivery. She is meant to be off-putting, unhinged, and bonkers.

Out of all the Carrie films, this film did not focus on Margaret and Carrie’s relationship. In this film, it’s all about her manic-religious obsession and that’s it. That’s her whole character. Margaret is terrified for her daughter going to the prom. But who is she actually terrified for?

There were little moments that saw her in a parent role. My favorite moment was when she ran up the stairs to see if Carrie was okay after hearing glass break. Other than that scene, it is hard to tell if she really cares for Carrie.

Patricia Clarkson (Carrie, 2002)

Unlike Piper Laurie’s corny, loud, and brash version of Margaret, Clarkson goes for a more reserved and quieted toned version of Margaret. I thought that was a great approach because you never know when Margaret is going to snap.

For the first time, Margaret and Carrie’s relationship is given a chance to expand into an actual mother-daughter relationship. Even in King’s novel they never have any mother-daughter interactions. It’s just the arguments, and abuse unfolding from Margaret’s behavior.

I like how Clarkson’s version cares for Carrie, frightened that she is going to lose her. She feels like a real mother other than her abusive moments to Carrie. She even tells her, “I don’t want to lose (Carrie)”.

Julianne Moore (Carrie, 2002)

Moore’s performance is a cross between Laurie’s erratic performance and the book counterpart of Margaret. I have gone back and forth on whether or not I liked Moore’s performance. My opinion has changed.

In contrast to Laurie’s corny depiction of religion, she is darker and more serious. Moore included depth to the part playing as more of a sympathetic character. One element that Moore expands upon is Margaret’s self-abuse. But not for long.

Out of all the Margaret’s, Moore’s version is the most sincere when it comes to the love for her daughter. She has more moments where she is a mother. In one scene she angrily scolds Carrie having no idea where she was. They share little moments of comfort.

I never liked how the climax of the film is a shot-by-shot remake of the original Carrie. If there was a different ending, Moore’s motivation for Margaret could have had a better result for her true feelings about Carrie.

Miss Desjardin/Miss Collins

Betty Buckley (Carrie, 1976)

This was Betty Buckley’s screen debut. For some reason, the gym teacher’s name is changed to Collins rather than Desjardin like in the novel. She becomes a mentor to Carrie. Or the mother figure that Carrie always needed. She is very supportive of Carrie helping her open up and see her inner beauty. Her scene where she punishes the girls is one of her best.

Out of the Carrie movies, I think the 1976 version is the best depiction of Carrie and Miss Collins. Miss Collins relates herself to Carrie which is why she becomes so close to her. Albeit, there are some subtle expressions and an ambiguous moment of her character in the prom sequence.

Rena Sofer (Carrie, 2002)

Rena Sofer’s scathing, intimidating, and genuine confrontation with the girls in the locker room is the best depiction of Miss Desjarden. Aside from Carrie, Miss Desjarden is my favorite character of all in the 2002 TV-movie.

Unlike Buckey who had a sweet relationship with Carrie, Miss Desjarden does not connect to Carrie. The only time the two characters interact is the beginning in the gym scene and then during the prom. Because the 2002 version is a closer depiction of the book, Miss Desjarden never gives Carrie advice that she needs about accepting the invite to the prom.

She was genuine in her tirade about what the girls did to Carrie but she struggled to have a conversation with her. Unlike how Buckey’s talks about her own prom night and telling Carrie how this a night she will never forget, Sofer talks to Carrie about how a group of popular girls will be fat in ten years. Although she is trying to make Carrie feel better, she did not feel sincere. She remarks to Tommy, “Wait for a slow song. (Carrie’ll) look stupid.” What does that mean?

Judy Greer (Carrie, 2013)

In my opinion, I don’t think that Judy Greer was properly cast in the part as Miss Desjardin. As in most of Greer’s performances, she comes off as uninterested in all her deliveries. I never saw her grasp the character. The stinging lecture that she gives to the girls about their punishment did not feel intimidating in any way.

The talk she has with Carrie at the prom is hardly present. Even in the scene where Miss Desjardin finds Carrie crying in the locker room upon being asked to the prom, her strange facial expression range from a mix of uninterest and doubt. She did not try to relate herself to Carrie. If the film didn’t copy scenes from the original, I think Greer could have had a better depiction.

Sue Snell

Amy Irving (Carrie, 1976)

In Amy Irving’s film debut, Sue Snell’s arc is a journey to figure out why she is really trying to help Carrie. Irving’s expressions and depiction were great. She is quieter about her guilt, letting her facial expressions overpower her character. Is she doing this as punishment to herself or does she genuinely feel sorry for Carrie?

She convinces her boyfriend, Tommy to take Carrie to prom, stands up to Chris’ vicious bullying, fights her way to tell Miss Collins that she is being honest, wanting Carrie to have a good time, but there is never any interaction with Carrie.

Kandyse McClure (Carrie, 2002)

Kandyse Mclure’s portrayal of Sue is the best out of the Carrie films. She gives a strong, kind, and heroic version of Sue. Understanding that what she did to Carrie is wrong, she really wants to help Carrie.

In this version, Carrie and Sue have an actual, albeit awkward conversation before the prom. Sue becomes the Mis Desjarden role, helping Carrie with makeup and choosing outfits. That is a scene that we needed from the other versions.

Gabriella Wilde (Carrie, 2013)

Gabriella Wilde’s portrayal as Sue Snell fell flat. Again, like Irving and McClure we see her guilt journey. She stands up for herself when Chris is trying to beat her down. There should have been a scene with Carrie and Sue, and I am not talking about the scene in the climax, that unveiled more of Sue’s layers.

One subplot that was in the book which was never in the previous Carrie films is added to this film. It does go anywhere and feels unnecessary.

Christ Hargenson

Nancy Allen (Carrie, 1976)

Nancy Allen’s vicious portrayal is Chris Hargenson is unforgettable. Allen has a ball. She was having so much fun that she actually believed herself and Travolta (Billy) to be the comedy relief of the film. Allen is vile, fierce, and demonic.

She is similar to her book counterpart, but she is more manipulative, driving her posse of girls to do villainous things. She sets the prank in action and cannot wait for it all to unfold. Her character is so conniving that she takes a vicious opportunity that she never did in the book. Chris proves to be the villain.

Emelie de Ravin (Carrie, 2002)

Emelie De Ravin is manipulative as Chris. There were some moments where de Ravin had a hard time grasping the nasty personality of the character because this was her first villain character. All in all, she still did a terrific job.

The 2002 version includes a scene with Carrie and Chris interacting. This is one of my favorite scenes. Trying to act buddy-buddy with Carrie telling her that they all like her and making jokes, it’s a chance for Carrie to fire back and insults Chris. The expression on Chris’ face is the best.

This scene allows us to see that maybe Chris only acts like a bully because she is scared. She is seen struggling to go through with the prank on Carrie once the time comes. Billy has to force her to do it. In this version, Chris did not think up the evil plan. It was all Billy.

Chris is hiding behind a mask because she feels insecure. That is something I have never seen with the character and I liked it. It gave her more depth.

Portia Doubleday (Carrie, 2013)

Portia’s Doubleday’s portrayal is Chris Hargenson is one of the darkest depictions of all to the Carrie films. Doubleday gives the best performance in the 2013 version. As described in the book, Chris is a brunette. She has very tan skin, too. Which highlights a theory. Is Chris jealous of Carrie?

Chris records the embarrassing incident of Carrie on her phone and then proceeds to upload it on her phone. I liked this addition because it adds a modern twist that the 1976 version did not have at the time. Doubleday is genuine in her portrayal. She was so good that I despised her.

Tommy Ross

William Katt (Carrie, 1976)

Tommy has an important role in Carrie. He is the most popular guy in the school. He is dating Sue, but when asked to take Carrie to the prom as a favor, his depiction and attitude towards Carrie are up to Katt. He has natural moments with Carrie, laughing with her and talking.

Some moments are tough to describe regarding his behavior, but Katt did a great job with the first depiction of Tommy Ross. He starts to warm up to her at the prom having a conversation with Carrie and laughing. It genuinely looks like he is having a good time with Carrie at the prom.

Tobias Mehler (Carrie, 2002)

Tobias Mehler was not the right choice for Tommy Ross. He was too old for the part and it shows. He bore no chemistry with Carrie. In the scene where he asks Carrie to prom, his response to her is that she is different and mysterious. Yeah, you can tell that he struggling to come up with the right explanation.

Although if Mehler did a better job with the character, I like how Tommy is gentle with Carrie. Tommy treats her nicely and he feels genuine. Mehler could have done a better job with his own performance.

Ansel Elgort (Carrie, 2013)

Ansel Elgort is the only actor to actually give Tommy a character. This is my favorite portrayal of Tommy. He is sincere, jokes around, and he is an airhead. It’s also the first time Tommy is played by an actor who is a teenager. He actually acts like a kid.

Moretz and Elgort were excellent in their interactions. Tommy is really sweet to Carrie. I bought a growing friendship between the two instead of it being forced. This new friendship is given more of a reason for Carrie’s ravenous breakdown in her destruction of the prom.

Billy Nolan

John Travolta (Carrie, 1976)

Did you know that playing Billy Nolan was John Travolta’s first major film role? Billy Nolan is the bad boy rebel boyfriend of Chris. He fit the role of a bad boy but he did not come off as aggressive. Billy and Chris felt more like the comedy team, slapping each other around, calling one another names, and bumbling around at times.

Unlike the book, 2002, and 2013 depictions, he is not aggressive. He is more laid back letting Chris take the rings and boss him around. They felt more of the comedic duo as Nancy Allan mentioned.

Jessie Cadotte (Carrie, 2002)

I never felt Jessie Cadotte’s performance. Billy is supposed to be aggressive, but he fell flat. It feels like he does not grasp the character until the prom scene. It is implied that he is mentally unstable. Cadotte should have had more scenes and dialogue that encased his dark sense of humor.

Because of De Raven’s depiction of Chris Hargenson, it’s Billy who is calling more of the shots, forcing Chris to do things. He pressures Chris into doing it.

Alex Russell (Carrie, 2013)

Alex Russell was very intimidating as the aggressive Billy Nolan. He fit the demonic energy of the character. Chris and Billy are both evil. Billy actually comes up with the pig’s blood prank, and not Chris. Other than that, there is really not much else to say about his character. He is just there, filling in for the role of Billy Nolan.

The Ensemble

1976 Carrie Ensemble

The ensemble has an important duty in Carrie. The 1976 adaptation of Carrie has the most memorable ensemble. Instead of being there to dance at the prom and react to situations, I felt that the ensemble grasped a character. P.J. Soles was only meant to stay on filming for a week but thanks to an improvised moment, she became the vile Norma Watson.

Viewers have talked about the girls who played the popular girls, specifically Edie McClurg. I agree that she physically did not fit the part but I thought that it displayed a positive message. It doesn’t matter what you look like to be popular depending on where it exists in high schools. The ensemble was fantastic. The prom scene is the most notable scene in the film with students and teachers running around for safety.

2002 Carrie Ensemble

The ensemble in the 2002 TV movie did a lot of whispering and watching Carrie. At times, it feels like that’s their only motivation. Unlike the 1976 version, Norma is given a background part. Look out for an appearance by Jodelle Ferland who plays Young Carrie.

One character who was only a minor character in the book and movie is Tina Blake (Katherine Blake). Boy, is she one of the nastiest characters, surprisingly nastier than Chris, in this version. I despise her whenever she is onscreen. Helen’s role was also expanded on a bit in the prom scene. She was given an important direction to discover the prank before anyone else.

2013 Carrie Ensemble

Nobody in the 2013 ensemble really sticks out. Actors are just there. None of the characters Chris’ girl posse stick out, nor are they given any dialogue. The twin girls who are always present in scenes are never given a chance to expand on their characters. The teacher in the classroom felt unrealistic in his behavior towards his students.

Again, the ensemble has the same duties such as whispering, giggling, and staring at Carrie. They excelled in the prom scene, running around, trying to escape the burning gymnasium.

Directors

Brian De Palma (Carrie, 1976)

Brian De Palma’s direction of Carrie is a cinematically stunning film. In some scenes, the screen is tinted with a haze giving it a ghostly feeling. His aesthetic is unique, greeting a day-dream feel to the film. The story does not carry as many details. That’s okay. You don’t have to tell every detail.

De Palma worked very well with all the actors helping them with their depictions of the characters. It’s also the most sensualized of the version which distracts viewers from the main story. The signature prom scene is the best. He edited it as a split-screen. Because there is so much going on, De Palma captured the horrors. De Palma’s Carrie is a masterpiece of its own becoming an instant classic.

David Carson (Carrie, 2002)

David Carson focused more on the characters and depiction of the novel rather than the special effects. He attempted to create a different depiction of the story more about the characters, than the notable prom scene that everyone talks about.

Albeit, the film is a long including scenes that felt like filler, it felt like a genuine story. He wanted to include every detail in King’s lengthy story, thus losing the audience’s interest. That’s one reason why I did not prefer the 2002 version for some time.

Not having the budget, most of the CGI effects are noticeable and are cheesy. Arguably the prank on Carrie is one of the best-looking blood shower out of the three. His adaptation of Carrie is the most underlooked among fans. Carson was planning to create a television series which is the reason for the different ending.

Kimberly Pierce (Carrie, 2013)

Kimberly Pierce had a chance to create her own vision of Carrie, but she got lost making it more of a shot-for-shot remake of the 1976 version of Carrie. She did a great job with the overall source material of the book, but she did not make it her own film. She scrapped scenes that were important to the film that could have fleshed out characters. She updated the story adding in cyberbullying. That topic is never expanded on again.

She focused more on a coming-of-age story. As stated in interviews, the relationship between Carrie and Margaret was the primary focus. Pierce could have done a better job with some of the actor’s choices for their characters.

The look of the special effects is strange. For example, when Margaret is hovering in the air, books flying, and the entire prom scene looked like it was still in the middle of editing.

Conclusion

The 2002 version of Carrie is underrated. For a long time, I turned my nose up at it but after a closer watch, it is a more realistic version of Carrie. I recommend that you find this adaptation of Carrie. Don’t let people’s reviews turn you off from it.

De Palma’s first film of Carrie is forever a horror classic. And as much as Pierce’s version of Carrie didn’t sell the horrors, it’s another Carrie film to watch.

We all have our own depictions of Carrie. Each film holds a different meaning. The bullying may be a trigger to some audiences. Thankfully, they are against bullying showing the negative effects of what it can do.

I recommend all audiences to watch the Carrie films. The films have something for e veryone. Overall they have changed in tone over the years. Carrie is an iconic horror film.