Did Carrie have any control?
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knight-in-black-leather — 9 years ago(August 06, 2016 02:51 PM)
DePalma stated in an interview that he wanted Carrie's telekinetic actions to be out of her control and be an extension of her emotions, but I feel the film doesn't convey this. Yes, there are times when her powers appear to be out of her control, such as when she breaks the light in the locker room and the mirror in her bedroom, but after reading about telekinesis, she clearly learns how to control it, such as when tells her mother she will close the windows, then does it.
Some may argue the trance she goes into at the prom shows she is running purely on emotion, but I disagree - I feel it's a combination. She is obviously highly emotional at that time but Sissy does an amazing job showing Carrie gaining her composure before methodically attacking the crowd.
Lastly, when she arrives home and speaks to her mother, she is upset that "they laughed at her" not that she killed them.
This is a faithful sayingJesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. -
OldFriendOfTheChristys — 9 years ago(September 22, 2016 10:20 AM)
DePalma stated in an interview that he wanted Carrie's telekinetic actions to be out of her control and be an extension of her emotions, but I feel the film doesn't convey this.
I hadn't heard this but agree with you - it doesn't come across. The TV remake actually comes closer in that respect. -
dlynch843 — 9 years ago(August 08, 2016 07:34 AM)
Tommy was killed by the falling metal bucket. So her anger never was directed at Tommy. She thought, in her emotional state, that Miss Collins was laughing at her along with everyone else. She probably would've killed Tommy, but he was already out of the picture when she started to use her telekinesiswhich all during the movie was a reaction to her being unjustly hurt and humiliated. Her telekinesis seemed an immediate reaction, and later it looked like she was able to use it with control.
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snickz — 9 years ago(August 08, 2016 09:28 AM)
Both seem to be true. It seemed she caused the kid on the bicycle to crash his bike, when he was making fun of her, but when in the principal's office, when he calling her by the wrong name, it seemed her emotions were spilling over causing the ashtray to fly off the desk.
Carrie had nothing to do with killing Tommy. His being killed, and her being covered by pig's blood was what set her off. Everything from that point on seemed to be caused by her wanting revenge. -
knight-in-black-leather — 9 years ago(August 09, 2016 02:59 PM)
Exactly.
Even when she throws the kid off the bicycle, she momentarily has an expression as if she is surprised with what happened. At this point, her power is an extension of her emotions, and the film does convey this. But after reading about telekinesis, her power is no longer are an extension of her emotionsshe has learned how to control it. Closing the windows for her mother is a perfect example of this. While this is an emotional moment for Carrie, she does say she will close the windows, then does it. She has become in control of her power. This is why I believe that, at the prom, she is fully aware and in control of what she is doing. She kills Mr. Morton, who can't seem to remember her name ("We're so sorry, Cassie"), Mr. Fromm, who mocks her ("Beeeuutiful!"), and Norma, who laughs at her. She also kills Chris and Billy. While no one at the prom is safe, she is directly attacking and getting revenge on those who have wronged her
The idea of killing Miss Collins, in my opinion, was DePalma's own touch of "black comedy". Miss Collins was the only one kind and encouraging to Carrie, only to be murdered by her.
Spacek gave a such an amazing performance. This film is why she is my favorite actress.
Great questionand a great answer.
Thank you bradster and you added some more great points, especially about the death of Miss Collins.
I agree completely about Sissy, she's an outstanding actress and the main reason "Carrie" is such a classic film. It's like a perfect storm of acting, direction and story and puts most of the modern horror films to shame imho. We've seen two other actresses portray Carrie, but neither have come close to matching Sissy's performance. Coal Miner's Daughter is another fave of mine.
This is a faithful sayingJesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. -
evguenimlodik — 9 years ago(August 31, 2016 09:46 AM)
It always felt to me that in the original novel and the 2013 remake, Carrie does everything consciously, she even relishes in it. But in the 1976 and 2002 films, it's interpreted that Carrie experiences complete nervous breakdown and can no longer control her powers.
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ricky_says_hi — 9 years ago(September 08, 2016 09:50 AM)
The book states that she definitely has some measure of control. The smaller things are her powers acting up - like the principal's office and the light in the showers. But hurting the little boy and her eventual rampage at the prom are from her own free will - at least subconsciously. She does those things specifically to get revenge on people who wronged her.
The poster above me is right in that the 2013 film is the only one where it's clear she's doing everything willingly. This one leaves it open - the expression Sissy Spacek makes looks as if she's in some kind of trance. The 2002 film shows that she definitely had no control. -
LadyDi4476 — 9 years ago(September 21, 2016 01:46 PM)
Lastly, when she arrives home and speaks to her mother, she is upset that "they laughed at her" not that she killed them
Good point, I never thought of that before. She's not upset about killing everyone and setting the school on fire. She's just upset that she was tricked again. I think deep down she knew her life was over. There's no way she could recover from such an act. Even if her mother hadn't tried to kill her, Carrie would have been crucified by the town.
-Di -
Cheeky — 3 years ago(December 09, 2022 09:44 PM)
Although, when you have that kind of power, it seems that no one can touch you
People would give her a very wide berth if they were smart
If we take the time to see with the heart and not with the mind, we shall see that we are surrounded completely by angels ~ Carlos Santana -
WarrenPeace — 3 years ago(December 09, 2022 09:53 PM)
No one was given a chance to realize her powers.
So do you disagree with the ending or do you think she should have lived to have had a chance to use them like the kid in the TZ It's a Good Life or Damien in the Omen series?
"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall -
Cheeky — 3 years ago(December 10, 2022 02:36 AM)
I don't disagree with the ending
I just think that it would be smart to stay away from someone who could kill you with a look
If we take the time to see with the heart and not with the mind, we shall see that we are surrounded completely by angels ~ Carlos Santana