Carrie
An awkward, telekinetic teenage girl is the object of relentless bullying at school and an oppressively religious mother at home.
Despite a moderate budget of $30.0M, Carrie became a solid performer, earning $84.8M worldwide—a 183% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Carrie (2013) exemplifies precise narrative design, characteristic of Kimberly Peirce's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 40 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.1, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Carrie White
Margaret White
Sue Snell
Chris Hargensen
Tommy Ross
Miss Desjardin
Billy Nolan
Main Cast & Characters
Carrie White
Played by Chloë Grace Moretz
A shy, bullied teenage girl with telekinetic powers who seeks acceptance but ultimately unleashes destruction at prom.
Margaret White
Played by Julianne Moore
Carrie's fanatically religious mother who abuses her daughter in the name of sin and salvation.
Sue Snell
Played by Gabriella Wilde
A remorseful popular girl who tries to make amends for bullying Carrie by having her boyfriend take Carrie to prom.
Chris Hargensen
Played by Portia Doubleday
The cruel ringleader of Carrie's tormentors who orchestrates the devastating prom prank.
Tommy Ross
Played by Ansel Elgort
Sue's kind boyfriend who reluctantly agrees to take Carrie to prom as an act of redemption.
Miss Desjardin
Played by Judy Greer
The compassionate gym teacher who tries to protect Carrie and punish her bullies.
Billy Nolan
Played by Alex Russell
Chris's delinquent boyfriend who helps execute the cruel prom prank.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Carrie White lives in isolation and fear, controlled by her religiously fanatical mother Margaret. The opening birth scene establishes the abuse and shame that has defined Carrie's existence.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Carrie discovers she has telekinetic powers when she shatters a water cooler in the principal's office. This supernatural ability disrupts her identity as a powerless victim.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Carrie actively chooses to accept Tommy's invitation to the prom, defying her mother and stepping into a new world of social acceptance and self-assertion., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Carrie is crowned prom queen in a moment of false victory. She stands on stage, seemingly accepted and triumphant, unaware of the cruel trap being set above her., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (68% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Tommy is killed by the falling bucket. Carrie realizes she has murdered her classmates and the gym burns around her. Her dream of acceptance dies completely, replaced by monstrous destruction., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Margaret stabs Carrie, calling her a sin. Carrie realizes her mother will never love her and that her hope for belonging was always doomed. She accepts her fate., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Carrie's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Carrie against these established plot points, we can identify how Kimberly Peirce utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Carrie within the drama genre.
Kimberly Peirce's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Kimberly Peirce films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Carrie takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Kimberly Peirce filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Kimberly Peirce analyses, see Stop-Loss, Boys Don't Cry.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Carrie White lives in isolation and fear, controlled by her religiously fanatical mother Margaret. The opening birth scene establishes the abuse and shame that has defined Carrie's existence.
Theme
Sue Snell observes "We were so cruel" after the locker room incident, foreshadowing the film's exploration of bullying, cruelty, and the consequences of ostracizing the vulnerable.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Carrie's tormented life: the shower scene where she experiences her first period and is viciously mocked, her abusive home with Margaret, the school environment, and the viral humiliation via smartphone video.
Disruption
Carrie discovers she has telekinetic powers when she shatters a water cooler in the principal's office. This supernatural ability disrupts her identity as a powerless victim.
Resistance
Carrie debates how to use her powers, researching telekinesis online. Miss Desjardin mentors her. Sue feels guilty and asks Tommy to take Carrie to prom. Chris plots revenge for her punishment.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Carrie actively chooses to accept Tommy's invitation to the prom, defying her mother and stepping into a new world of social acceptance and self-assertion.
Mirror World
Tommy Ross represents the possibility of kindness and genuine connection. Through him and Sue's guilt-driven compassion, Carrie glimpses what normal teenage life and acceptance could feel like.
Premise
Carrie prepares for prom, practicing her powers, making her dress, and experiencing hope. Chris and Billy plot their revenge with the pig's blood. The promise: can the bullied outcast transform into a princess?
Midpoint
Carrie is crowned prom queen in a moment of false victory. She stands on stage, seemingly accepted and triumphant, unaware of the cruel trap being set above her.
Opposition
The bucket of pig's blood is dumped on Carrie. The viral video plays, laughter erupts, and her humiliation is complete. Carrie's rage unleashes her full telekinetic power in a massacre.
Collapse
Tommy is killed by the falling bucket. Carrie realizes she has murdered her classmates and the gym burns around her. Her dream of acceptance dies completely, replaced by monstrous destruction.
Crisis
Carrie walks through town destroying everything, hunts down Chris and Billy, killing them. She confronts the darkness of what she's become and returns home to her mother.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Margaret stabs Carrie, calling her a sin. Carrie realizes her mother will never love her and that her hope for belonging was always doomed. She accepts her fate.
Synthesis
Carrie uses her powers to crucify her mother and brings the house down on them both. Sue arrives and Carrie spares her life after sensing Sue's baby, allowing one act of mercy before death.
Transformation
Sue testifies at the hearing, haunted by guilt. Carrie's grave is vandalized with "Carrie White Burns in Hell." The transformation is complete: from victim to monster to cautionary tale, her tragedy immortalized.