Review of Carrie (2013) by Thequietgamer — 21 Oct 2016

Probably the biggest change in this remake is that it's set in modern times. The movie does a fairly good job of taking advantage of this. For example part of the torment Carrie's classmates put her through involves cyberbullying. It's a small new addition that is only mentioned in one or two scenes because the era source material fits in doesn't really make much room for new additions. Some of the book and original movie's dialog can still be found here and not all of it fits in well with the new time period. 2013's Carrie attempts to add some new elements do fall short here and there because of how closely it sticks to the original's formula, which was a fairly faithful adaption of the book in the first place.

Those of us who experienced the original movie will notice the many similarities. The remake does a better job of following that movie than it does the book itself. Although it does add some scenes from the book that the original movie did not, while simultaneously missing out on some of the original's inclusions. While still pretty identical to the first Carrie, director Kimberly Peirce does add her own twists to the familiar scenes. Not all of which are all that great.

At times it feels too modern and too aimed at todays youthful demographic. It's pretty, flashy, and filled with attractive young actors and actresses. Then there's that soundtrack. Even Carrie White herself is not the awkward little duckling we all remember. That's without a doubt the movie's biggest issue.

Chloë Grace Moretz is without a doubt a fantastic young actress. She's just not really the right choice for Carrie. Despite her best efforts to look as socially awkward and sheltered, she comes off as way too natural and confident. Perhaps it's believable that she wouldn't be the high-school's most popular student, but she's nowhere near backwards enough to be the most hated and bullied girl in the halls. There are moments where she's just awkward enough to come off as believable, but that's only when they are sticking to the original movie's scenes precisely.

Yet, when the fateful prom scene finally hits, something about Moretz blood soaked appearance that's just menacing and deranged. The violent, flashy, and perhaps excessive final prom scene suits her well. When she washes off that blood though, we're back to not so believable Carrie.

So how about the famous prom scene? While it doesn't have the original's restraint and (broken) heart, it makes up for it in flash and some satisfyingly brutal revenge. Peirce does a great job of making sure we see Carrie's demons laid to rest as the she dishes back out the cruelty her bullies unfairly placed upon her. Things get really violent and over-the-top. It's incredibly satisfying to watch even if it does go too big.

While nowhere near as good as the 1976 adaption and especially not the book itself, 2013's Carrie still succeeds. That's more a testament to Stephen King's writing than a praise to Peirce's take on the classic. To be brutally honest most of her changes just aren't very good. Carrie is just an inherently excellent story to begin with.

That's not to say all the changes are bad. If there's one thing I will give this new adaption credit for it's on the way it portrays Carrie's relationship with her mother. There's actually some love there. Yes, the themes of religious intolerance and abuse still ooze from the Margaret White character, but you can see in this version she actually does love her daughter. An element missing from the book and previous adaption where she was just cruel to Carrie all the way through. It makes for a more believable dynamic, even if it makes the story as a whole less heartbreaking.

The tale of Carrie White is still better experienced by reading the book or watching the 1976 classic, but this is still a good adaption. Carrie should have been better cast and it's missing out on some the gut punch from the book and the original that made them so emotionally effective. It's a little too modernized to be as effective, especially where the horror is concerned. Yet, Stephen King knocked it out of the park when he wrote this one. That brilliance still shines through in this take on the story. Not too mention, that prom scene is more exciting than ever. So yeah, it's not the best way to experience Carrie, but it's better than not experiencing her at all.

7.