Based on the best-selling Stephen King novel, this “absolutely spellbinding horror movie” (Roger Ebert) stars Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie in Oscar®-nominated* performances. This ultimate revenge fantasy has become one of the all-time great horror classics!

At the center of the terror is Carrie (Spacek), a high school loner with no confidence, no friends … and no idea about the extent of her secret powers of telekinesis. But when her psychotic mother and sadistic classmates finally go too far, the once-shy teen becomes an unrestrained, vengeance-seeking powerhouse who, with the help of her “special gift,” causes all hell to break loose in a famed cinematic frenzy of blood, fire and brimstone! This classic also stars John Travolta (Blow Out), Amy Irving (The Fury), William Katt (House) and P.J. Soles (Halloween).

For thoughts on Carrie (1976), please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

The Video Attic: New Blu-ray & 4K UHD Blu-ray Releases For January 24 - 31

Video Quality

Scream Factory presents Carrie (1976) with a terrific 2160p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision/HDR. This film was originally released on Blu-Ray by Scream Factory a little over six years ago which was derived from an older master. While that was a fine release, this new presentation blows it out of the water in every respect. One of the aspects that will dazzle fans the most is the stunning implementation of Dolby Vision which does not let you down with its depth and nuance. As you might expect, the glorious flames of the finale provide a really nice visual spectacle. Other less obvious elements such as pieces of clothing and some of the environmental elements show their worth. There is also a greater accuracy to the more ruddy colors in some of the interiors of Carrie’s house. The new presentation reaches a level of accuracy and color detail that likely tops the original prints.

This disc also delivers some magnificent natural film grain which brings out so much distinct texture in the production design, the special effects and more. This grain resolves well with nothing ever appearing frozen or spiking throughout. This disc executes every environmental change with ease. Even difficult scenes like the steamy shower scene does not turn into a blocky mess. The black levels are pretty strong with no blatant crush present, and white levels never get too hot. Any lingering specks and bits of damage have been eradicated with this latest pass. The makeup effects showcase viscus elements with great clarity which makes the work all the more unsettling. There are a few moments where the encode could have potentially been better optimized, but it is miles away from poor. This is the best the film has looked on home entertainment, and Brian De Palma fans will be thrilled to own one of his top tier works on the format.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with both Dual Mono and Stereo DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio tracks, along with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track. No matter what configuration you opt for, you are in for a treat. The surround sound 5.1 mix sounds more spacious with environmental elements, but nothing sounds too manufactured or out of place. Sounds such as crowds at the prom or the running water of a shower are given a notable place within the mix. Dialogue comes through with impeccable clarity even when the thrills are ratcheting up near the end. You never have to worry about the fidelity of the track even when things kick into high gear. The low end of the track has enough substance to add texture that enhances the experience. The terrific score from Pino Donaggio sounds fantastic without a hint of damage. This holds such a prominence in the experience as it establishes the mood of the story. Overall, Scream Factory provided a top notch audio experience for this one. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who want them.

Special Features

Disc One

Audio Commentary: Joe Aisenberg, Author Of Studies In The Horror Film: CARRIE provides a very thorough and entertaining commentary track in which he discusses the background and development of the film, the themes of the story, the direction of Brian De Palma, the differences between the movie and the Stephen King source material, the background of some of the performers, anecdotes from the production he gained while researching the book and much more that is well worth a listen.

Disc Two

Audio Commentary: Joe Aisenberg, Author Of Studies In The Horror Film: CARRIE

Newspaper Ad Gallery: A four-and-a-half minute collection of newspaper ads from across the country are provided here.

Trailers & Radio Spots: The two-minute theatrical trailer is provided here. A six-minute collection of trailers is also provided for Carrie (2002), The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999) and Carrie (2013).

Disc Three

Interviews

- Writing Carrie: A 29-minute interview with Screenwriter Lawrence Cohen in which he discusses coming across the Stephen King source material, the rocky development of the film, the challenges the source material provided for adaptation, deciding what elements lend themselves to film, working with Brian De Palma, fighting to get the studio to take the film seriously and more.

- Shooting Carrie: A nearly 16-minute interview with Director Of Photography Mario Tosi in which he discusses how he got involved with this project, working with Brian De Palma, the shifting nature of the production, mapping out the prom scene, how they pulled off certain difficult shots and more.

- Cutting Carrie: A 25-minute interview with Editor Paul Hirsch in which he discusses his relationship with Brian De Palma, how De Palma got him involved with George Lucas, his initial displeasure with Carrie, the freedom he gets as an editor with De Palma, the way the ending changed after cutting the prologue and more.

- Casting Carrie: A 16-minute interview with Casting Director Harriet B. Helberg in which she discusses her initial excitement about working with Brian De Palma, how the casting process used to be conducted, the very professional nature of Sissy Spacek, the toughest roles to cast and more.

- Acting Carrie: A nearly 43-minute piece which includes interviews with Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, Betty Buckley, Nancy Allen, Jack Fisk, William Katt, Piper Laurie, Priscilla Pointer, PJ Soles, and Brian DePalma. There are some good insights into the dual Carrie and Star Wars audition process, where the performers were at this point in their careers, working with Brian De Palma, the difficulties of the volleyball scene, the fear amongst the cast about nudity and more.

- More Acting Carrie: A more recent 20-minute featurette featuring interviews with William Katt, Nancy Allen, Betty Buckley, Piper Laurie, Edie McClurg, and P.J. Soles. Once again you get some solid insights into how the audition process treated these performers and what the production process entailed.

- Visualizing Carrie: A 42-minute look into the making of Carrie with interviews from Brian De Palma, Jack Fisk, Lawrence D. Cohen, and Paul Hirsch which details the journey of adapting the novel for the silver screen.

- Bucket Of Blood: A 24-minute interview with Maestro Pino Donaggio which explores the score of the film, working with De Palma, the intention behind certain choices and more.

Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: A nearly 12-minute exploration of some of the original filming locations and how they look today.

Carrie, The Musical: A nearly seven-minute piece which takes a look at the idea to bring Carrie to the stage and how the process worked.

More Carrie

- TV Spots: A three-minute collection of TV spots are provided here.

- Radio Spots: A minute-and-a-half collection of radio spots are provided here.

- Still Galleries: This disc provides a “Rare Behind-The-Scenes” and “Posters and Lobby Cards” gallery.

- Stephen King and the Evolution of Carrie Text Gallery: A text gallery is included which is divided into “Stephen King and the Writing of ‘Carrie’”, “From Novel To Script” and “Book & Film Comparison.”

Final Thoughts

Carrie (1976) is an absolute classic from Brian De Palma which explores religious and sexual oppression and the effects of being treated like an outsider. Sissy Spacek is a force of nature in what just might be her career defining role. The film knows when to hold back when it needs to, but more importantly it knows when to let loose and unleash chaos. Scream Factory has provided the film with a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that boasts a top tier A/V presentation and a deep reservoir of special features that fans will devour. Even if you already own this one on Blu-Ray, this new presentation brings a whole new life to this film. Highly Recommended

Carrie (1976) (Collector’s Edition) is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Scream Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.