The Final Ghouls Of Horror Podcast
Oct 14, 2026 · 2 hr 6 min · 10 segments
The Final Ghouls are back and going back to the prom as we tackle the 1972 classic Carrie ahead of its 50th anniversary -- and just as the new Mike Flanagan series arrives! Holly, Jeremy and L discuss…
Let's talk about this film's history.
Uh, or more specifically, El, would you like to talk about this film's history?
Well, since you asked so nicely.
"Carrie" is written by Lawrence D. Cohen based on the novel by Stephen King, who'd have thunk it? And directed by Brian De Palma.
It stars Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, William Katt, Nancy Allen, John Travolta, Betty Buckley, P.J. Soles, and Piper Laurie.
"Carrie" was actually King's first published novel.
King was a fan of Brian De Palma's 1973 horror film "Sisters" and suggested De Palma for the directing job.
De Palma had read the book on the suggestion of a friend in 1975 and wanted to make a film version of it, so, you know, worked out well.
Cohen was brought on to write and came up with a first draft that closely followed the book.
United Artists agreed to make the film after the second draft, but would only budget $1.6 million, which was considered quite small considering how popular horror was at the time.
As a result of the budget, some of the scenes that were written had to be cut.
There was a wide casting call put out for the lead role with a number of actresses auditioning, including Melanie Griffith, "Exorcist" star Linda Blair, and Farrah Fawcett.
Sissy Spacek's husband, Jack Fisk, who was the film's art director, persuaded her to audition and convinced De Palma to see her after he had already decided that he wanted actress Betty Slade.
Spacek backed out of a TV commercial shoot, rubbed Vaseline into her hair, and wore a sailor dress that her mother made for her in seventh grade with the hem cut off to get the role.
Meanwhile, Piper Laurie originally signed on to play Margaret White believing the film was a comedy.
To give Margaret and Carrie's house more of a gothic feel, De Palma and the producers went around to religious souvenir shops for items to serve as set decoration.
There was filming done on the original planned opening, which would have followed King's book where stones came from the sky.
But the pebbles just looked like raindrops, and then the ending where the house would be destroyed by stones was botched due to mechanical issues, so they scrapped the scene and went with the finish that we see Gregory Auer, the special effects supervisor, came up with the technique for filming the scene in which Margaret is stabbed, attaching knives to clear monofilament and pulling them out, filming the process in reverse.
That scene would go on to influence several other horror movies.
As a result, she was buried under rocks and gravel for the jump scare.
Carrie had its premiere on November 3rd, 1976, receiving critical acclaim.
Let's talk about this film's history.
Uh, or more specifically, El, would you like to talk about this film's history?
Well, since you asked so nicely.
"Carrie" is written by Lawrence D. Cohen based on the novel by Stephen King, who'd have thunk it? And directed by Brian De Palma.
It stars Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, William Katt, Nancy Allen, John Travolta, Betty Buckley, P.J. Soles, and Piper Laurie.
"Carrie" was actually King's first published novel.
King was a fan of Brian De Palma's 1973 horror film "Sisters" and suggested De Palma for the directing job.
De Palma had read the book on the suggestion of a friend in 1975 and wanted to make a film version of it, so, you know, worked out well.
Cohen was brought on to write and came up with a first draft that closely followed the book.
United Artists agreed to make the film after the second draft, but would only budget $1.6 million, which was considered quite small considering how popular horror was at the time.
As a result of the budget, some of the scenes that were written had to be cut.
There was a wide casting call put out for the lead role with a number of actresses auditioning, including Melanie Griffith, "Exorcist" star Linda Blair, and Farrah Fawcett.
Sissy Spacek's husband, Jack Fisk, who was the film's art director, persuaded her to audition and convinced De Palma to see her after he had already decided that he wanted actress Betty Slade.
Spacek backed out of a TV commercial shoot, rubbed Vaseline into her hair, and wore a sailor dress that her mother made for her in seventh grade with the hem cut off to get the role.
Meanwhile, Piper Laurie originally signed on to play Margaret White believing the film was a comedy.
To give Margaret and Carrie's house more of a gothic feel, De Palma and the producers went around to religious souvenir shops for items to serve as set decoration.
There was filming done on the original planned opening, which would have followed King's book where stones came from the sky.
But the pebbles just looked like raindrops, and then the ending where the house would be destroyed by stones was botched due to mechanical issues, so they scrapped the scene and went with the finish that we see Gregory Auer, the special effects supervisor, came up with the technique for filming the scene in which Margaret is stabbed, attaching knives to clear monofilament and pulling them out, filming the process in reverse.
That scene would go on to influence several other horror movies.
As a result, she was buried under rocks and gravel for the jump scare.
Carrie had its premiere on November 3rd, 1976, receiving critical acclaim.
The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said
Search every transcript — by keyword, by phrase, or by meaning, across every show Radar indexes
Trends — what is surging across podcasts, measured against its own baseline
Alerts — when a name you follow appears in a newly indexed episode
No account is needed to search Radar.