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Late to the Party: Carrie (1976)

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Carrie

It’s Wednesday, so it must be time for another edition of Late to the Party!

Today’s movie is the original 1976 version of Carrie, adapted from the Stephen King book of the same name. While it’s been long enough that everyone knows the story, seeing it is something else. It’s directed by Brian De Palma (The Untouchables, Mission: Impossible), and stars Sissy Spacek (JFK, An American Haunting) and John Travolta (Grease, Battlefield Earth).

Image courtesy of IMDB.com

It opens with Carrie getting her period for the first time in the girl’s locker room shower, which begins the next level of her torment as it’s pretty clear she was likely teased well before this. From there we meet her religious fanatic of a mother who locks Carrie in a kitchen closet for the crime of having a period.

The girls that ruthlessly mocked Cassie in the locker room shower have their own punishment, a week’s worth of detention that they must serve or lose their chance to go to Prom. Of course, some of them take offense at that and insist that Carrie has to pay yet again.

One of the track stars asks her to prom, not knowing the part he’s about to play in this scheme. Meanwhile, Carrie is discovering she’s capable of ‘miracles’, in the form of telekinesis. The pivotal night then comes and we’re just waiting for what we know is coming.

Carrie

Carrie and her date are ‘chosen’ as the Prom King and Queen, setting her up on the stage for the dumping of the pig’s blood the lead girl and her boyfriend had set up. Covered in red, and in spite of the people who are appalled at what happened, Carrie only sees people laughing at her and lets her powers loose, locking the doors, and starting a fire. Then she calmly walks out, leaving the building to burn.

Her night isn’t finished there, as her mother saw Carrie’s power and has decided the girl has to die. She stabs her own daughter in the back and chases her downstairs where Carrie kills her mother in self defense.

It’s all too much for the young girl and her powers go berserk, pulling the entire house down on top of them and into the ground, killing them both.

Carrie

Many films don’t stand the test of time, but the original Carrie stands up very well.

The outfits and hair might be dated, but the cinematography is excellent, making you unsettled even as it shows mostly mundane settings. (And, oh boy, is there a lot of slapping in this movie.)

What gives this film its legs are the themes of bullying and religious fanaticism, which are possibly even more relevant today than back when the film was made. It wasn’t the first movie about either theme, but its focus on them as the bones of the story are easily relatable.

Check back for the 4th of July to see what our writer Eric Panico thinks about The Purge!

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Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

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The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

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lizzie borden house

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

Inside the Lizzie Borden House

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

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’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

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28 years later

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.

28 Days Later

The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.

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