LIFESTYLES Crier / Oct. 16, 2013
Tales of terror
9
Through the years, horror films evolved from silent clips to modern day thrillers
Dancing Skeleton 1895
41 second silent clip; called a “spook tale” instead of a “horror movie”
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari 1919
One of the first full length silent horror movies ever made
Nosferatu 1922
First vampire horror movie; based loosely on the book Dracula; set precedent for future vampire films
Dracula 1931
First horror movie with sound; a breakthrough for Universal Studios
Godzilla 1954
REVIEW
photo by Michael Gibson, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
REINVENTING
Psycho
HORROR
With “Carrie” opening in theaters this Friday, Crier staff compares original 1976 movie with remake based on Stephen King’s novel of same name Lauren Rouse Social Media Director The young blonde girl misses the ball and all the other girls in the gym complain. “You can’t even think about winning with her on the team,” a teenage girl whines somewhere off screen. The blonde girl shifts her feet and stares at the ground. Released in 1976, “Carrie” is the first film adaptation of Stephen King’s book. The movie follows the story of Carrie White, a young, shy girl who does not fit in at school due to her overlyprotective and religious mother. As the movie progresses, Carrie develops telekinetic powers and ultimately wreaks havoc on the student body. The director of the original “Carrie” Brian De Palma, also directed critically acclaimed “Scarface” and “Dressed to
Marked the “Creature Feature” era in which horror movies featured monsters
Kill”. However, with such a brilliant director, this film is horrible. Due to undeveloped technology, the special effects of Carrie’s powers were weak. Yet, the lacking in special effects does not make up for the terrible acting. The actress who plays Carrie, Sissy Spacek, widens her eyes a lot in the movie, giving the audience the illusion that her eyes are glued that way. The third remake of “Carrie” opens Friday, and stars Chloe Grace Moretz (“Kick-Ass,” “Dark Shadows”) as Carrie. Fans of the book have high hopes for this year’s remake. The movie is a more “faithful adaptation,” according to the film’s screenplay writer, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who writes and co-produces “Glee”. In the cast selection for the film, Julianne Moore, known for her roles in “The Big Lebowski” and “Crazy,
Stupid, Love” will play Carrie’s mother, Margaret White, a mentally ill and frenzied religious woman. Moore should be able to play this part with no problem, as she is known for her emotional roles in other movies. In the trailer for the film, Moretz seems to pull off the part of Carrie perfectly and the interaction between her and Moore give the audience the allusion that they were born to play these roles. Compared to the original version, this movie should shock and wow the audience. For the sake of the box office, the third (and hopefully final) remake of “Carrie” should be nothing like the original. The actors for this movie fit the parts perfectly and the special effects seem top notch. After all, the movie’s posters state that the audience “will know her name.”
Book of Blood: Story of Carrie White
1960
Covered topics which were considered taboo for the time period, including mental instability
Night of the Living Dead 1968
Most successful independent horror movie not affiliated with any major studio
The Excorcist 1973
Incorporated commentary on the Catholic religion into a horror movie
Nightmare on Elm Street 1984
Drew heavily from folklore; began one of the largest horror movie franchises
The Blair Witch Project 1999
One of the first horror movies that used Internet marketing for promotion
Paranormal Activity 2007
Used modern special effects; features ghosts, a theme that has grown in popularity Source: www.horrorfilmhistory.com
Stephen King’s “Carrie” continues to provide thrilling entertainment to readers through a dark, tragic tale since its 1974 release Max Baker News Editor “Carrie”, Stephen King’s debut novel, one of the most influential novels in horror culture, blurs the lines between gruesome horrors and a sad, heartwrenching tragedy. This novel creates a grotesquely beautiful masterpiece that continues to influence generations of thrill seekers and horror fans. At its core, “Carrie” melds itself into a deliciously dark tale about the limits a person can go to before they finally snap. Carrie White, the epitome of a misfit, alienated and mistreated by her peers and horribly abused by her fanatical religious mother must endure the hardships of being both a social outcast and pitied by her peers. Stephen King masquerades this tragic tale with
descriptions of unspeakable gore and the horrors that exist within high school. The novel follows Carrie through her high school and the events that follow after the iconic “Black Prom”, a prom scene, so simple yet powerful it ignites a hidden sorrow with in the souls of all who read it. As the novel progresses, Carrie White undergoes both a literal and metaphorical transformation, morphing into a beautiful young woman. “Carrie” maintains the clichéd, but worldly theme that some people have no sense of morals and will continue to torment the oppressed to their hearts malicious content. Carrie’s main tormentor, Kris, fueled by an unknown rage directed at poor Carrie, influences nearly all the characters in the novel. Kris uses her influence, popularity and her rather intimidating boyfriend to manipulate the students
into bending to her twisted will. As “Carrie” reaches the climax, Kris’s rage and hatred finally exposes itself to Carrie. The once ugly duckling finally pushed over the edge snaps, her psyche fracturing into pieces. King uses his signature macabre, simplistic writing to pierce the benevolent glass hearts of readers about the unfortunate circumstances that occurred on “Black Prom.” This hauntingly dark scene perfectly infuses the ugly truth about human nature and the underlying rage that dwells within the hearts of the tormented. This single scene opens the readers’ eyes to the unimaginable abominations that Carrie went through as creates her own form of justice. This horrifying novel should be enjoyed by everyone. King spares no expense on any grisly details, so the weak stomached and immature should avoid this horror novel.