MovieChat Forums > Carrie (1976) Discussion > Still traumatized.

Still traumatized.

posted 7 years ago by davidrodolff
8 replies | jump to latest

I remember seeing this movie in the theater when it came out. The word was that the ending was pretty scary. I was sitting there during the prom scene, and then the scene at the house, and it was pretty intense. When it was over, I remember thinking, "Well that was bad, but not too bad." Then the hand comes up from the ground and every woman in the theater (Which was about 2/3 of the audience) screamed at the top of their lungs.That unnerved me so badly that I was unable to put the key in the lock of my car afterward, my hand was shaking so badly. Definitely my worst movie going experience.

[–] Centralline92 7 years ago

Thanks for sharing your story. I'd loved to have seen this when it first came out but was too young at the time and had to settle for the book. It must have been amazing with a first run audience in the theatre. Especially considering the ending became a horror movie cliché. It would have been great to experience that when it was fresh, original and unexpected.

[–] davidrodolff 7 years ago

Well, based on the hearing loss I suffered that night, it was one of a kind.

[–] leybadana 7 years ago

Yes, ty4sharing. Interesting post.,quite insane + creepy.

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TZTM---The Jews don't own everything, the Arabs won't let them.

[–] scottand 7 years ago

I also saw this in the theater when it first came out. I'd heard nothing about the ending. When that hand shot up it was as though a small earthquake struck the theater. The sound and feel of everyone in the theater jumping in their seat at the same time is something I'll never forget. Would love to see this again in a theater full of people who've never seen the movie but that will probably never happen.

[–] bradster67 7 years ago

One regret I have is not seeing "Carrie" in a theater. I was thrilled to have seen it at the drive-in, but drive-ins are a different experience than a walk in theater.

It was late April, 1977. I was 9 years old. I went with my two older sisters, both in their mid to late teens. The younger of the two had already seen it in a theater (damn her!) after sneaking in. She liked it and was happy to see it again.
We watched Burnt Offerings (a great film) in the car. During intermission, I went alone to the patio in front of concessions. There were benches and several speakers. I watched "Carrie" there with a few other people.

I remember that after the blood hit Carrie, the drive-in was as quiet as the film is for that moment.
After Carrie's house burns down and Mrs. Snell takes the phone call from Betty, I walked back to the car. The sister who had seen it KNEW that Carrie's bloody hand was coming up. She had told me about the film, so I knew it was coming. When her hand came up and grabbed Sue, my sister screamed and screamed and screamed. It was very funny, but I understood. It scared me too...but she had already seen it! Very funny.
Anyway, in retrospect, it was a great memory from my childhood.

Ever since that night, "Carrie" has been, and remains my all time favorite film and Sissy Spacek, my favorite actress. I lost count years ago of how many times I have seen this film. An educated guess...approximately 500 times.

[–] rndgurl-971-654277 7 years ago

Nice to see u on the board Bradster, I enjoy yours and knight in black leather posts a lot..

[–] pepetoony (1559) 4 years ago

I just watched this for the first time and screamed like a bitch at that final scare (I'm a 40yo male). I can't remember the last time a movie actually made me scream out loud. That hand was beyond unexpected lol

[–] roreyking (561) 8 months ago

I saw it in a theatre when it came out. Everybody screamed. Definitely one of the best “boo!” scene in movie history. But the severed head in the boat from Jaws takes the cake.