Brian De Palma and the cinematic discovery of Stephen King

The 1976 film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel ‘Carrie’ marked a significant moment in cinema, introducing King’s work to a wider audience. Directed by Brian De Palma, the film follows the story of Carrie White, a telekinetic teenager who suffers from bullying and seeks revenge during her high school prom.

De Palma, who felt a personal connection to the theme of social outcasts, worked with screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen to adapt the story. While the film remained largely faithful to the book, De Palma introduced specific stylistic changes, such as emphasizing Catholic imagery and altering the scale of the destruction to focus on the prom setting rather than the entire town.