In Shelley Stamp’s article, Horror, Femininity, and Carrie’s Monstrous Puberty, Stamp states that the family itself represents the origin or horror which is precisely shown in the horror film of Carrie (pg. 330).
The film depicts several moments in which Carrie is shown being physically and verbally abused by both her mother, Mrs. White and her classmates. Carrie is tormented by classmates as tampons and pads are propelled her way and her female classmates chant “Plug it up!” It is evident that Carrie is fearful of her mother which can be displayed by Carrie’s body language, lack of eye contact and the fact that Carrie seems to walk on eggshells around her mother. In several scenes Mrs. White is shown portraying extremely cruel and inhumane ways of parenting as she drags her to a small confined closet, slaps her across the face with a book, throws a drink at her face and stabs her with a kitchen knife. She even goes as far as to body shame Carrie and tell her everyone would laugh at her, implying she looks ridiculous. Mrs. White has turned Carrie into this monstrous feminine by suppressing Carrie’s and her own sexual desires which results in Carrie’s telekinetic powers (pg. 330 and 335).
( Mrs. White praying for Carrie’s ‘sins’. Source: MGM, 1976, Carrie.)
Throughout the beginning of the film Carrie is crawling in her own skin, she is anxious and has a loss of self-identity. She desires to be accepted by society, by her peers and her teachers. Ironically on prom night Carrie is seen applying makeup in a broken mirror as she herself is viewed as broken in order to conceal her true monstrosity (pg. 338). When the pig’s blood is dumped on Carrie it takes her back to the locker room scene in which she was tormented by her peers and triggers feelings of rage and deception. Her telekinetic powers whether accidentally or purposely go after those who have wronged her. Her principal who continuously called her by the wrongful name of Cassie is electrocuted, classmates who mocked her were knocked unconscious by the intense force of the fire hose, and Chris and Billy are killed in a car crash as they attempt to run over Carrie.
(Carrie applying makeup on prom night. Source: MGM, 1976, Carrie.)
Lastly, Stamp offers two ways in which Carrie can subdue her monstrous desireds: 1) sexual repression which is validated by Mrs. White or 2) Miss Collins’ way of masquerading her femininity (pg. 341). Miss Collins compliments Carrie’s facial features and encourages her to put some makeup on and put her hair up in an effort to help boost her self confidence. Little does Miss Collins know she is encouraging Carrie to camouflage her own horror.
In this day in age, many young girls tend to camouflage their anxieties, fears, and insecurities through makeup and through using their sexuality in order to get what they want.
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