Blog Post #6: Shot by Shot scene analysis: Carrie (1976)

Carrie is one of my favorite thriller movies of all time, the 1976 version at least. The others ones don't even do the first one justice. I chose this scene because I feel like it is one of the best to show visual storytelling because there is absolutely no dialogue. Everything about the portion of the scene is being told through visuals. From lighting to to the actors’ movement its all setting the tone and building suspense for what is about to happen. It was very effective to only utilize the music and visuals to lead up to the cow blood being poured on Carrie. Also, using the sound from the dangling bucket and dripping blood was also very clever.
Carrie may be ostracized and bullied by her peers but she also possesses telekinetic powers. When the popular clique play a sick prank on her at the prom, she unleashes her power to a devastating effect.
It was very effective to only utilize the music and visuals to lead up to the cow blood being poured on Carrie. Also, using the sound from the dangling bucket and dripping blood was also very clever.  

ANALYSIS

This first shot shows the ribbon falling from the stage above which causes alarm to the girl in the
audience.

 

She notices it from afar and starts to investigate where it comes from as she makes her way up to
the stage.

Carrie’s gym teacher sees her looking at the stage and is on alert trying to make sure she doesn’t ruin
Carrie’s moment.

There is a kiss between them that also gets her coaches attention that makes her think something
strange is going on.

The teacher watches the girl to see what her next move will be.

She's trying to discover what's going on because she senses something weird.

She spots the bucket perched above the stage and starts to discover where it's source is coming from.

Her eyes start to follow where the rope attached to the bucket is coming from.

Her eyes follow from the roof down the wall getting closer and closer to the source.

She's getting closer and closer to where the string is coming from

This is one of my absolute favorite shots from this scene I found it so unique. It's a shot of Carrie's
bully hands on the rope preparing to pull the rope to drop the blood onto Carrie.
The choice of showing the shadow of the hands instead of the actual hands definitely adds more of
a thriller effect to the scene.

She sees where the source is coming from and immediately begins to realize what's about to happen.

She starts to run towards the stage to get to the source of the rope and to try to save

Carrie from the blood being poured on her.

She tries to stop the bullies from pulling the rope and the teacher makes her way to stop

her not realizing she's trying to help Carrie.

Carrie's date looked down at her shaking his head .

She discovers two of the people who's planning to prank Carrie.

Carrie see's her not knowing what she's doing and that she's trying to save her.

The teacher drags her from the stage through the crowd and proceeds to put her out of the dance .

I thought this was also avery interesting shot of her bully licking her lips.

She's doing such a disgusting evil thing but it's something that's bringing her alot of enjoyment.

The suspense builds as the bucket is tilting off the ledge

The girl who was trying to help her is getting thrown out by the teacher she's resisting because she's

trying to tell her that Carrie is about to be embarrassed.

This is an extreme close up of the bully's eye watching for the bucket to fall down on Carrie.

This is a shot of her finally pulling the rope and it's where the energy shifts and from suspense to the

climax of the scene.

The bucket topples over the edge finally spilling over onto Carrie

Shot of the bucket completely turned over.

An extreme close up of the bully's mouth smiling after she has pulled the rope.

This is an over head shot of the blood spilling onto Carrie and also where the scene completely shifts.

Carrie is now covered in blood and is in disbeleif of what is happening to her. She starts hearing

her mother's voice of her saying people are going to laugh at her.

The audience is looking at her in shock.

Another one of her bully's starts to laugh after there is silence for so long. In the scene you can't

hear her laughter but you can see where it starts and how people look at her when she does.

Her date fakely asks who did that to her and tries to act like he is soo angry.