Carrie

An ealier film by Brian, and one I've been meaning to see for a long time, for stylistic embryology, if you will. Oddly, I have little recollection of it now, except for some striking scenes. I guess that must tell you something He does some weird split screen effects during the big finale, which for me only served to dilute the impact. He has wised up since then. But he definitely has that same slithery, sinuous camera technique and the prurient point of view--he is really quite voyeuristic in his own way, but he never fails to suck us in right along with him. You feel tainted--almost immoral--but you are riveted; could no more turn away than you could stop breathing. It's very cathartic, after all; he gives us the opportunity to let loose some of our nastier impulses. What a talent. The performances are good, and an aura of dread suffuses the entire picture, and the final sequences (despite the fact that everybody in the world knows what happens) do pack quite a wallop.