MovieChat Forums > Elmer Gantry (1960) Discussion > Elmer Gantry vs. Carrie

Elmer Gantry vs. Carrie

posted 16 years ago by CahillSellers
8 replies | jump to latest

Okay, let's settle this, which movie had a better crowded-hall-on-fire finale?
Carrie's sequence had pig's blood, firehoses, electricution, death-by-falling-air-conditioning-duct, and one of the freakiest stares in movie history.
Elmer Gantry had religious fanatics fighting with fists, torches and trampling over old ladies, cripple fights, a dillusional female preacher telling everyone not to leave because God will protect them (this is as the entire church goes up in flames, mind you) and an upset parishoner smacking a bible out of her hand and clocking her out cold.
Which was a better sequence? It's neck-and-neck! Who will in?
I leave it entirely in your hands!

"But, hey, that's me, I could be wrong."

[–] rooprect 16 years ago

Hahaha, it sure is a tossup....

But personally my favourite death-by-mass-immolation scene is in Logan's Run, with the fanatical mob yelling "Renew! Renew! Renew!" as each body hits the ceiling and bursts into flames. Talk about freaky :o

[–] CahillSellers 16 years ago

We should dub this sub-genre En-Masse Massacre, or even better, En-Massacres...

Another good one is when Donald Sutherland drops the electric wires and lights on the pod-people's shipping warehouse in the 70s version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Though the (imitation) body count is questionable, it should be mentioned for its sheer explosiveness. Ska-BOOM!

"But, hey, that's me, I could be wrong."

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

"En-Massacres": That's brilliant!

I'd give the edge to "Carrie" for its sheer weirdness, though other films with explosive finales that come to mind immediately: "Tommy," "Massacre at Central High" and "Firestarter."

[–] CahillSellers 15 years ago

Massacre at Central High was friggin' awesome! Great opening credit sequence or the GREATEST opening credit sequence? You're at the crossroads of your life... the crossroads of your life...

here a few more:
Ms. 45 - This might not count because she was only killing men, but hell, its close enough. Any movie that has a psycho mute dressed as a nun blasting away at wild ass costumed partygoers is okay in my book!

X-Men: The Last Stand - Personally, I thought the Phoenix en-massacre was the ONLY good part of this movie, but it was still better than X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend - The granddaddy of all en-massacres! Nearly overwhelming to even the most hardcore of viewers! Not just a banquet hall, but all of Japan!

"But, hey, that's me, I could be wrong."

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

Wow, you really know "Massacre at Central High." I'm so impressed!

I love the opening of the film, very cheesy '70s with that "ABC After-School Special"-type song. Interestingly, I attended a screening a few years ago with the director, Rene Daalder, and he said he hated that song about "the crossroads of you life." he said he originally wanted Blue Öyster Cult's "This Ain't the Summer of Love," but the studio didn't want to pay for the rights.

[–] CahillSellers 15 years ago

That's fantastic! Too bad about the song, though Crossroads was just so memorable. Plus, any director who crushes Robert Carradine with a boulder mid-threesome should get to use whatever music they want!

"But, hey, that's me, I could be wrong."

[–] CahillSellers 15 years ago

Okay, I'll just add a couple more to the en-massacre list. One I just saw and the other I can't believe I didn't bring up before.
Inglorious Basterds - I don't want to give anything away because it came out recently, so I'll just say HOLY *BEEP*!!!
The Dirty Dozen - I know this could be argued to death, but that still gets a bigger HOLY *BEEP* than Inglorious Basterds. And I've GOT to ask, when using that many grenades, is the gasoline even necessary? Talk about overkill...

"But, hey, that's me, I could be wrong."

[–] Xcalat3 16 years ago

Carrie

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...