Having become hooked on horror and Stephen King back in the 70s after reading The Shining, Night Shift and Salem's Lot, I sought out his books every chance I got back then. Plus, when I saw what the auteur Brian De Palma did with the film adaptation of King's first published novel, I had to locate a copy of it from the local library. Carrie was actually the author's fourth novel, but the first one published (in 1974). And, it dealt with a subject that continues to haunt our headlines and landscape.Critic-Filmmaker-Factotum Bryce Wilson (of the Things That Don't Suck blog), recently wrote a wonderful and insightful review of the 1976 feature film (as part of his grand 31 Days of Horror series this year) and nailed that age-old can of worms with this passage:
"It’s a story that I think, has the best chance out of King’s canon to be damn near eternal. Because as long as there are high schools there are going to know what that furnace of rage that can grow in your belly can feel like. And those who imagine what it would be like if they just let it explode (Or implode. Am I the only one to notice that the only difference between the rash of teen suicides that swept the country recently and the rash of school shootings that happened about twelve years ago is that this time the kids are turning their guns on themselves rather then others? I don’t know what this generational shift means. Or if it can even be termed as a generational shift. I just know that either way it saddens and disturbs the hell out of me.)"The post has been updated and moved to my current blog, which can be found here.
This is a fantastic look at this great film and book. Man, I really need to read this book again. It's been too long. I've actually been revisiting Clive Barker's BOOKS OF BLOOD which is a really dynamite collection of short stories.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should post this, I just picked up the novel yesterday and started reading it for the first time. Not sure why I didn't read in in high school when I was delving through King's oeuvre. I am too early into the novel to generate any hard opinions, but I am finding it difficult to seperate my images from DePalma's film, a masterpiece in my opinion, from the process. I guess I will have to pick up the audio book afterwards.
ReplyDeleteSissy Spacek: there's an actress H'wood shd be writing more scripts for. Nice write up, Michael.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes. Clive Barker's BOOKS OF BLOOD is fantastic collection of his stories. Thanks so much, J.D.
ReplyDeleteWatching the De Palma film first (like you and I have done) tends to induce that effect. The audiobook with Sissy narrating is well worth the listen, Colonel. Thanks very much.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes. Sissy Spacek is one hell of an actress. She was notable since I first saw her in Prime Cut. Thanks, Naomi.
ReplyDeleteOK, no throwing things, but I've yet to read a Stephen King novel. =-O I've seen several of the movies made for TV and theater, including CARRIE. I didn't know that Sissy Spacek had been nominated! She's one of those actresses that can completely sell you on whatever role she's playing. Great review, lp13!
ReplyDeleteIf I were to read just one of his novels, it would probably be THE STAND. I absolutely loved the miniseries they made for TV. I don't even want to know how wigged-out I would have been if IT had been made for the big screen. On TV, Tim Curry's clown, Pennywise, completely creeped me out! Same with SALEM'S LOT. Of course, when it comes to horror flicks, I rate pretty high on the Wuss (capital W) meter.
Thank you for the kind words, Christine. Great to see you back online (and give my regards to your generous spouse).
ReplyDeleteStephen King's The Stand would be an outstanding selection to read. There were two versions of that book. I started to read the novel when it first came out believe it not when I had the flu -- one bad idea. Freaked me out and I had to stop (though, I went back to it when I got healthy). The latter version, titled The Stand: Expanded Edition: For the First Time Complete and Uncut, was even better. Get that one.
Many thanks for the kind words (and link Le0pard13) got me all blushing.
ReplyDeleteThis is a nice piece of work, not just because of the deserved credit to Spacek, but your insightful take on the novel's problems.
Well done.
Very kind of you to say, Bryce. Thank you for the comment and the push to revisit this early S.K. novel, my friend.
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