10 Horror Movies Where Pranks Brutally Backfired

Carrie is one of the earliest adaptations of a Stephen King story, and some argue, the best, superbly telling of a sad, bullied loner who is finally pushed too far and takes her revenge.

There are actually two scenes in Carrie that could be considered pranks, both integral to the plot.

In the first, shortly after gym class, Carrie White has her first menstrual period. Not knowing what's happening, Carrie thinks she is bleeding to death and begs for help, only to be met with cries of 'Plug it up' and pelted with sanitary products by the other girls. This humiliation marks the moment Carrie's telekinetic powers are unlocked.

The second, and more spectacular, is at the senior prom. The power couple of the school rig the event, crowning Carrie as Prom Queen, only to douse her with pig's blood during her triumph. This is where Carrie finally snaps after years of bullying, kills most of the students and teachers via telekinesis, and lays waste to the town of Chamberlain, which is never the same after 'The Black Prom.'

At the end of the story, Carrie is fatally wounded by her religious fanatic mother, whom Carrie kills in return. There's no feel-good ending to this film and no winners.

(If you've never read the original Stephen King story, do so! He adds incredible details about Carrie's walk from the prom to her home that add immensely to the narrative.)