Remaking horror films where the performances are just as iconic as the movie itself is just something you don't do. Jack Nicholson's turn as Jack Torrance in The Shining chews up Steven Weber's in the 1997 TV redo, Robert Englund will always be the only Freddy Krueger, Vince Vaughn was just too masculine to riff on Anthony Perkins' neurotic turn in Psycho and, I can guarantee you, that what Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie deliver in Carrie far outclasses anything in the 2002 and 2013 remakes.

Based on Stephen King's first novel; Carrie tells the tale of the naïve, socially awkward girl of the title (Spacek) who we first come upon during High School gym class. As if being picked on wasn't enough, things escalate to a new level of cruelty when Carrie, just getting her first period despite being a senior, reacts badly to her menstruation blood. This leads to the entire class getting into trouble, Carrie being sent home early, and gym teacher Miss Collins (Betty Buckley) feeling terrible.

Little does her classmates and teachers know but Carrie has the power of telekinesis. It allows her to control things with her mind. A trick she shows us by making an ashtray in the principal's office flip and making a little kid who's chanting "Creepy Carrie" at her fall off his bike. So, apart from dealing with bullying and her powers she also has to contend with her religiously over-the-top mother (Laurie). She's shielded Carrie from what she considers "sinful" and isn't above locking her daughter in the closet when she tries to rebel against God's will.

In order to atone for being a part of it, Sue (Amy Irving) convinces her boyfriend Tommy (William Katt) to invite Carrie to the prom. It's a good natured, harmless gesture but it's soon to turn into a mistake when popular girl (and class snob) Chris (Nancy Allen) gets wind of it. Chris sets out to prank Carrie and humiliate her at the prom little realizing that our mentally powered ugly duckling isn't above using her gifts to exact bloody revenge.

In the assured hands of Brian De Palma Carrie hums. It plays out essentially like a teen drama for a good portion of its running time and, having just read the King book again recently, sticks pretty closely to its source material. You just can't help feeling bad for Carrie as she's a total outcast by no fault of her own. As played by Spacek you can feel her desire to be something more than a cowering wallflower and it sucks when her joy of the prom is ruined - not only for her but all of her victims as well.

Let's talk about that finale. There's been much said about De Palma's use of split-screens, slow motion and colour saturation and it definitely works. It's film editing at its best and keeps your riveted to the action. Throw into the mix the memorable image of Carrie doused in blood and it's easy to see why this is not only a genre classic but in the upper echelon of King adaptations.

If Spacek conveys the innocence and malice of Carrie when necessary then Laurie is bat shit crazy. Even when having to contend with Allen and her brood she's still the most hissable villain here. Her religious fervor and wild looks elevates her performance above just being a "crazy parent". If you pair her performance here with Kathy Bates' in Misery you have two of the most certifiably insane females in horror. Irving also does well as the goodhearted girl and gets to be part of the much talked about shock ending - she'd also return for 1999's avoidable sequel The Rage: Carrie 2. Katt is pretty likeable as the football jock with the change of heart, Allen is a complete bitch at all times and would co-star in De Palma's Dressed to Kill four years later (and well as marry him), familiar B-movie face P.J. Soles (Halloween, Rock 'N' Roll High School) has a side role as Chris' kooky friend and marks John Travolta's first film role as Chris' punk boyfriend.

I really can't praise Carrie enough. It's both subtle and risk taking and highly entertaining. Rather than going for all out carnage De Palma and scripter Lawrence D. Cohen play off King's talent for capturing the shittiness of high school. Throughout the entire flick we're just bursting with anticipation for the moment Carrie finally snaps - and damned if we didn't cheer her on when she does. (Chris Hartley, 10/28/13)

Directed By: Brian De Palma.
Written By: Lawrence D. Cohen.

Starring: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, William Katt.