15 Eerie Truths About Carrie

Brian De Palma is a master of versatility, having explored nearly every genre in his over five-decade Hollywood career. From action-packed blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and Snake Eyes to gripping crime dramas such as Carlito’s Way and The Untouchables, psychological thrillers like Raising Cain and Body Double, film noirs including Black Dahlia and Femme Fatale, and the gritty gangster epic Scarface, De Palma has done it all. Yet, his 1976 adaptation of Stephen King’s debut novel, Carrie, stands as one of his most remarkable works. Even today, it continues to terrify audiences, regardless of their familiarity with the plot. Discover 15 lesser-known facts about this Oscar-nominated horror classic.

1. Carrie was the first Stephen King novel to hit the big screen.

Carrie was a groundbreaking milestone for Stephen King, serving as both his first published novel and the inaugural adaptation of his work into a film. Over the past four decades, King’s stories have inspired over 100 movies, TV films, series, and episodes, solidifying his legacy as a master storyteller.

2. Stephen King received $2500 for the film rights to Carrie.

During a 2010 book event in Fort Myers, Florida, King reminisced about being paid a mere $2500 for the movie rights to Carrie. Though the amount might seem small, he expressed no regrets, stating, “I was fortunate to have that happen to my first book.”

3. Stephen King believed Brian De Palma’s treatment of Carrie was "more artistic" than his own.

Half a decade after the movie’s debut, King commended De Palma’s adaptation, remarking:

"De Palma's interpretation of the story was more subtle and refined than mine—and significantly more artistic ... While my book presents the characters and their actions with clarity and truth, it lacks the stylistic flair of De Palma’s film. The novel directly examines the complexities of high school society, whereas De Palma’s approach is more indirect ... and far more incisive.”

Over 25 years later, during a 2007 interview with Nightline, King appeared slightly less enthusiastic, commenting, "Carrie is a good movie. It hasn't aged as well as some others, but it's still pretty good."

4. Stephen King's name was misspelled in the Carrie trailer.

At the time of Carrie's release, King was such a new name that his first name was misspelled in the movie's trailer (written as Steven instead of Stephen).

5. The cast of Carrie could have been the cast of Star Wars.

Brian De Palma was casting for Carrie simultaneously with his close friend George Lucas, who was casting for his sci-fi project Star Wars. The two decided to hold joint auditions, which led to some confusion. De Palma favored Amy Irving for the lead in Carrie, but she was also in the running for Princess Leia in Star Wars. William Katt auditioned for Star Wars as well, alongside Kurt Russell.

6. Amy Irving and William Katt, the stars of Carrie, had a real-life romantic history.

Before landing the roles of Sue Snell and Tommy Ross, the high school’s ideal couple, Irving and Katt had briefly dated. "It was about a year before we auditioned for Carrie," Irving shared. "Our relationship was short-lived, but we remained friends. When we tested for the film together, we performed a scene that was later cut—a physically intense moment in the backseat of a car. Our prior connection made it easy and comfortable, though we didn’t end up sharing many scenes in the final version."

Irving also had a personal tie to the film: her on-screen mother was played by her real-life mom, Priscilla Pointer.

7. Brian De Palma initially didn’t envision Sissy Spacek as Carrie.

Despite admiring Spacek’s previous work, De Palma was certain another actress was perfect for the role. He only allowed Spacek to audition as a favor to her husband, Jack Fisk, the film’s art director. "He mentioned I could try out for Carrie White," Spacek told Rolling Stone. "But he already had someone else in mind unless I truly impressed him. I decided to give it a shot anyway."

For her audition, Spacek wore an old dress from her elementary school days and slicked her hair back with Vaseline. After finishing, she waited in the parking lot while her husband and the production team reviewed her performance. When Fisk emerged to inform her she had landed the role, Spacek recalled, "We drove away quickly before anyone could reconsider."

8. Carrie was John Travolta's first film.

Travolta was gaining fame from his role in Welcome Back, Kotter, but Carrie served as his introduction to the big screen.

9. Piper Laurie initially believed Carrie was a satire.

Piper Laurie, who received an Oscar nomination for portraying Carrie’s zealous mother, had largely retired before accepting the role of Margaret White (her last film being The Hustler in 1961). However, her understanding of the script differed from De Palma’s vision, something she only realized once filming started.

"When De Palma clarified that he didn’t want a satirical tone and warned, ‘You’ll get laughs if you do that,’ I understood he wanted no intentional humor in our performances," Laurie explained to HollywoodChicago.com in 2011. "I fully committed to the reality of the character. It was liberating and enjoyable to embrace the role of the wicked witch with childlike freedom."

Nancy Allen, who portrayed the cruel Chris Hargensen, also thought she and Travolta were providing comic relief. It wasn’t until she saw the final film that she recognized they were the antagonists.

10. Sissy Spacek maintained her role as Carrie by isolating herself.

To fully embody her character’s loneliness, Spacek stayed apart from the cast during most of the production. In a 2013 Vulture interview, co-star P.J. Soles recalled, "Early on, Sissy approached us and said, ‘I really like you all, and I’m excited to work together. But I’m going to distance myself to feel the alienation my character experiences. Don’t take it personally—after filming, we’ll celebrate. This is just for the role.’ We respected her approach, and it made it easier for us to be as harsh as possible toward her, knowing it would enhance her performance."

11. Sissy Spacek was once a high school homecoming queen.

While “Prom Queen” might carry more weight, Spacek still has the sparkling crown she wore when she was named homecoming queen at Quitman High School in Texas during her teenage years.

12. Sissy Spacek insisted on using her own hand for Carrie’s final scene.

Despite De Palma’s preference for a stunt double in the final scene, where Sue Snell visits Carrie’s grave, Spacek was determined to use her own hand. This meant she had to be buried underground for the shot. "I found it amusing," Spacek told NPR. "I’ve always done my own hand and foot scenes."

13. Sissy Spacek enjoyed watching audiences react to Carrie’s shocking ending.

"When Carrie premiered in New York, I’d visit theaters just to catch the final five minutes and see people leap out of their seats," Spacek remembered. "Everyone is calm, the music is soothing, and then suddenly—chaos. People go wild."

14. Carrie includes subtle references to Psycho.

De Palma had wanted Bernard Herrmann, the renowned composer known for his work with Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock, to score the film. However, Herrmann passed away in 1975 before production began. Despite this, his influence is evident throughout the movie.

"Initially, we used Herrmann’s music as temporary tracks for the film," De Palma explained to Cinefantastique. "For the grave procession, we ended up using a famous Italian piece—Albinoni, I believe. The eerie sound effects are very reminiscent of Psycho. I used a temporary track with Psycho-style violins for the flexing sounds. We couldn’t replicate the exact sound, but it worked. Bernard’s influence lives on, and I’m glad we honored it."

Bates High School, the setting for Carrie’s story, is another homage to Hitchcock’s 1960 masterpiece.

15. Stephen King once expressed interest in seeing Lindsay Lohan take on the role of Carrie.

When news of a Carrie remake surfaced in 2011, King was taken aback: "Why remake something when the original was so strong? It’s not Casablanca, but it’s a solid horror-suspense film, even better than the book." However, he had casting and directing suggestions: "Lindsay Lohan as Carrie White… intriguing. It would be an exciting choice. I’d support it if someone like David Lynch or David Cronenberg helmed the project."