The 2013 remake of the horror classic “Carrie” updates the story to try to appeal to a younger crowd. Although it wasn’t bad, I had some issues.. and here’s my take.. Spoilers Ahoy!!
A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White, a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother, who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.
Now, this retelling of the story does keep many aspects of the original, while adopting many newer problems that today’s kids face, such as Internet Bullying & Harassment. The infamous shower scene (which, by the way, is now non-nude) is caught on video and plastered all over Youtube. Honestly, I think today’s teenagers may like this movie and some will identify with the pain and frustration that leads Carrie to the inevitable night at the Senior Prom. I, myself, was bullied all throughout school for being the fat kid.. I completely understand.
Now, that being said.. I have to point out a few things.
First, I have to give props to the entire cast, I found nothing wrong with the acting. Although I feel the roll of Carrie really called for an actress with a plainer look. Chloë Moretz is gorgeous and no amount of mussing of the hair is going to change that fact. Julianne Moore did a great job as Margaret White.. and the girls playing the high school bitches, were high school bitches.
Issue: I felt they revealed too much too soon. In the original, we really didn’t get the full realization of the extent of Carrie’s power until Prom night. But, in this remake, it’s evident from the first 15 minutes that she has powers and not only Not afraid of them, but eager to use learn more and use it.
Issue: Prom night. Sissy Spacek’s “Carrie” almost seemed to be in a trance, obviously in a rage, but not animated. The scene (for me) was frightening due to her lack of emotion. Now, Chloe’s “Carrie” is very animated.. waving her hands around, as if her telekinesis was being directed from her finger tips, much like Jean Grey in the X Men movies. It’s unnecessary.
Issue: The devastation. In the original, the only survivor of the Senior Prom was Susan Snell. In this remake, it seems that most of the senior class survives, and Carrie’s rage is mostly unleashed on the bullies that hurt her, and anyone unlucky enough to get in the way.
I also think they should have kept the split-screen for the prom sequence.
http://www.veoh.com/watch/v19509439Da32Yqz2
I think it’s pretty clear that I’m partial to the original. But, as I said.. I think today’s youngsters will like the remake, and that’s ok.
