Oscar-nominated Stephen King horror branded 'best ever' by fans airs tonight

An Oscar-nominated Stephen King horror that's been branded the "best ever" by fans is set to air tonight.

Directed by Brian De Palma and penned by Lawrence D. Cohen, Carrie was brought to life from King's 1974 semi-epistolary novel bearing the same title, marking his debut published work.

The 1976 American supernatural horror starred Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, a timid adolescent who endures relentless ridicule and harassment at her high school.

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She subsequently manifests telekinetic abilities and employs them to exact revenge upon those who tormented her.

The production's ensemble cast featured Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, Nancy Allen, William Katt, PJ Soles, Betty Buckley and John Travolta in supporting capacities, reports the Express.

Following its debut, Carrie achieved both critical acclaim and box office triumph, earning more than $33.8 million against a modest $1.8 million production cost.

Three additional movie instalments in the Carrie series have since emerged, alongside a Broadway stage production and a television special.

The film secured two nominations at the 49th Academy Awards, recognising Best Actress for Spacek and Best Supporting Actress for Laurie.

This horror masterpiece has left an indelible mark on popular culture, with numerous outlets hailing it amongst the finest horror productions of all time.

In 2008, Carrie claimed the 86th position on Empire's compilation of The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time, whilst securing 15th place on Entertainment Weekly's roster of the 50 Best High School Movies.

In 2022, the iconic horror film was chosen for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, with the Library of Congress recognising it as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

If you've not yet seen this chilling classic, or fancy a re-watch, you're in luck as it's due to be broadcast on BBC Two tonight (Sunday, September 21) at 10pm.

Currently, Carrie holds an impressive certified fresh rating of 94% on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, based on 80 reviews.

The film also enjoys a 77% audience score, with fans continuing to sing its praises on social media, nearly half a century after its initial release.

"The original classic horror film remains one of the most memorable entries in the genre. The film is still absolutely rewatchable today, not just for its horror elements, but for its emotional core. It's one of those movies that will continue to be studied, quoted and remembered for generations to come," one viewer penned.

Another chimed in: "Carrie didn't just become disturbing, but became more horrifying and a shocking dark twist teen horror movie. The best Stephen King adaptation ever."

A third fan declared: "Carrie might be the ultimate high school horror revenge flick. Terrifying prom climax and shocking ending, it's amazing."

Echoing these sentiments, a fourth viewer said: "Carrie is a cult classic. One of the all time great films. Absolutely love it."

Carrie will air at 10pm on BBC Two on Sunday, September 21