Examining the Codes and Conventions of the Horror genre: Carrie (1976)

My mind tends to find it easier to create stories with a horror or psychological aspects included in some way, with a protagonist acting either in reason to their difficult circumstances or victims of their own mind. Still in the process of deciding into a story best fitting for 2 minutes, I’m exploring the different genres and what would be needed to achieve them to decide.

The cult classic movie, Carrie (1976), based on the novel by Stephen King of the same name, follows the story of Carrie White. She is a 17-year old with telekinesis powers, both
traumatized by her mother and peers. The themes of the story of a protagonist with a dualistic nature as well as seeing how the outcome could have been predicted yet striking to the audience. It has inspired many other films with similar premises as well as in pop culture.

Like many others, crossing the written form of a book to a film, choices had to be made of events to include or altogether changes to the original story. Haven both read and seen the movie, it has interesting to note those differences and understand why they were made. For example, the level of destruction caused by Carrie was far more explicit and damaging in the book than in the movie. The ending, one of the most important pieces to a story, was changed as well. Both explained and easily deduced by logic, these decisions were made due to the technological limits to special effects, not being able to achieve the scenes without it looking “fake”. It is important to notice how these changes were made in form of adaption, still having the main point across and the themes explicitly showed. Working with what it is at hand and available, as well as if a certain scene is not working, it is important to remember, especially if I like my idea, but feel stuck in place.

Another interesting fact,
the film uses many times the split screen focus, seen in the clip at 1:48, having both of the characters in focus in seemingly different angles. This type of camera work is considered unnatural, since eyes cannot compute images like that. It is interesting to use it, since it can fit into the unsettling tone of this film specially, seeing the character in not comfortable positions even in the camera work.

The same can be seen about the prom scene, the dizzying camera work of the two dancing brings unsettledness into what otherwise would be a sweet moment between the two. Knowing what camera work to use and utilize it in the correct moments, bringing the audience to subconsciously feel to where the story is progressing. Knowing how these shots were able to be accomplish, putting the camera in a rotary platform, it behinds to make me think of what I could use to get that shot, those types of exercise machines that rotate come to my mind.

Using the color theory and the mise-en-scene to achieve this genre is very subtle int his movie, but can still be noticeable. The use of the dull and calming colors, such as blue and pink, in the prom and in the people’s outfits, can make people believe how things may end up well, as well as bringing unevenness since it is a horror film. After being splashed with blood, the contrasting red against the blue background feeds into that feeling, lowering the lights and bringing Carrie into the center of the shot. The unwelcoming environment of Carrie’s home, cluttered with religious imaginary, lets us know the mom’s character even before having met her. It is important to note how the colors into a film bring certain emotions, using soothing colors in a horror film is not wrong, since it would follow into a surprise and suspense. Characters can get to be done and considered “Scary” by how their environment looks.

I enjoyed visiting this classic for the first time, though certainly knowing the ending, both while reading it, it still evoke many feelings in me, mainly compassion for Carrie. Bringing your audience with compassion into a fictional character is not as easy as it may seen, but it is interesting to include in horror since not all stories are “good vs. bad”, the terms may become gray and the audience will be let to decide what their ideas are. I hope the bring the same kind of observation and pondering into my story, since I feel like including a character suffering from a illness rarely seriously addressed.

Citations:

“Carrie.” IMDb, IMDb.com, www.imdb.com/title/tt0074285/mediaviewer/rm3252758528/.

“Carrie-Trivia.” IMDb, IMDb.com, 2014, www.imdb.com/title/tt0074285/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv.

De Palma, Brian, director. Carrie (1976) - Dance Scene. Youtube, 1976, www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaaLNjD8L8s.

De Palma, Brian, director. Carrie 1976 "Beautiful!". Youtube, 1976, www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIzRr3im4Cc.