Like Being on Mars: An Oral History of ‘Carrie’ (1976)

Stephen King’s 1974 novel Carrie and Brian De Palma’s 1976 film adaptation have been long-standing influences on the horror genre since their inception. As King’s first novel, it opened many doors for him, and De Palma’s breakthrough film adaptation was both a critical and financial success that firmly established his career. Gambin’s (Hell Hath No Fury Like Her: The Making of “Christine”) oral history takes a look behind the scenes of the film with interviews from cast and crew. Interviewees include King, De Palma, cast members Sissy Spacek, Nancy Allen, William Katt, Amy Irving, P.J. Soles, and Piper Laurie; screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen; editor Paul Hirsch; composer Pino Donaggio; and art director Jack Fisk and his then-assistant, the late Bill Paxton. Gambin covers a wide range of topics, such as pre-production details about casting, the making of specific scenes, and the film’s release and reception. The book is filled to the brim with beautiful full-color images, including movie stills, behind-the-scenes photos, and publicity materials.