Carrie (1976) Limited Edition 4K UHD [Blu-ray] Review

5 star fantastic restoration of a horror classic.

Carrie is a 1976 horror film directed by the legend that is Brian De Palma (Mission Impossible, Raising Cain). It is adapted from the 1974 novel of the same name written by the equally impressive Stephen King (Pet Sematary, Castle Rock), with a screenplay by Lawrence D. Cohen (Ghost Story, It).

It is available to buy in the UK on Limited Edition 4K UHD from 22nd January 2024, courtesy of Arrow Video.

“You sit there Mama, and don’t say a word until I’m gone. I’ll be home early.”

Carrie White (Sissy Spacek – Nine Lives, In the Bedroom) is a troubled young teenager at Bates High School. Living at home with her abusive and overzealous religious mother Margaret (Piper Laurie – The Hustler, The Faculty), she is shy at school and finds it difficult to make friends.

The bullying intensifies when she starts her period in the showers at school and the other girls mock her and shout insults. Teacher Miss Collins (Betty Buckley – Split, Frantic) intervenes and this annoys popular girl Chris (Nancy Allen – Dressed to Kill, Robocop). One of the bullies Sue (Amy Irving – Traffic, Adam) wants to make amends by getting jock Tommy (William Katt – The Man from Earth, House) to take her to the prom.

Initially believing it to be fake, she declines, but Tommy is eventually able to persuade her and they get along well. In the meantime, Chris hatches a plot with her boyfriend Billy (John Travolta – The Forger, Pulp Fiction) to get revenge on Carrie and spoil her fun. This backfires spectacularly as Carrie manifests telekinetic powers and unleashes them on a unsuspecting high school prom.

“I can see you dirty pillows. Everyone will.”

 Carrie is a great film and this restoration really does it justice. A highly influential film, it is great to see it getting the 4K treatment and it looks and sounds brilliant, better than ever.

Sissy Spacek is magnificent and if anything, many of the scenes are even more shocking now than they were upon its original release. Her murderous rampage is still the benchmark for gruesome prom scenes in horror to this day.

It’s no holds barred look at bullying, high school cruelty and religious fanaticism make this an even more powerful watch. With lots of special features, this new version will be a great addition to any horror lovers collection.

“And the first sin was intercourse, momma, I was so scared, I thought I was dying, and the girls… they all laughed at me and threw tampons at me, momma.”

Carrie is available to buy now on Limited Edition 4K UHD

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• 4K restoration from the original camera negative
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Lossless mono and DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio soundtracks
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Commentary by Lee Gambin, author of Nope, Nothing Wrong Here: The Making of Cujo, and Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, author of Cultographies: Ms. 45 and Devil’s Advocates: Suspiria
• Acting Carrie – archive featurette containing interviews with director Brian De Palma, actors Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, William Katt and others
• More Acting Carrie – additional interviews with the cast of the film
• Visualising Carrie: From Words to Images – archive featurette containing interviews with De Palma, writer Lawrence D. Cohen, editor Paul Hirsch and art director Jack Fisk
• Singing Carrie: Carrie the Musical – archive featurette on the stage musical adaptation of King’s novel
• Writing Carrie – an interview with writer Lawrence D. Cohen
• Shooting Carrie – an interview with cinematographer Mario Tosi
• Cutting Carrie – an interview with editor Paul Hirsch
• Casting Carrie – an interview with casting director Harriet B. Helberg
• Bucket of Blood – an interview with composer Pino Donaggio
• Horror’s Hallowed Grounds – a look back at the locations of Carrie
• Comparing Carrie – visual essay comparing the various versions and adaptations of Carrie across the years
• Alternate TV opening
• Image gallery
• Trailer
• TV spots
• Radio spots
• Carrie trailer reel
• Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring original and new artwork by Laz Marquez
• Limited edition 40-page perfect bound book featuring writing on the film by Neil Mitchell, author of Devil’s Advocates: Carrie, a reprint of the Final Girls’ 40th anniversary Carriezine, and an archive interview with Brian De Palma
• Fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and new artwork by Laz Marquez
• Six double-sided collector’s postcards