With bullying and school violence firmly embedded in the public consciousness, it seems only fitting that a film about the consequences of mistreating your peers should get a modern-day makeover, and nearly forty years after Sissy Spacek and her prom dress were drenched in pig’s blood, Carrie is back on the big screen in this reimagining of the 1976 cult classic.
Chloë Grace Moretz stars as the titular teenager, whose strict upbringing at the hands of a religious fanatic mother (Julianne Moore) has left her sky, awkward, and a constant target for the cruelty of the popular crowd. Moretz turns in a stellar performance as a wide-eyed teen longing for a normal life, and Moore is creepily unhinged, terrifyingly devout and completely detached from anything resembling reality.
But let’s be honest – moviegoers will spend the entire film anticipating the iconic prom scene, and when Carrie’s frustration finally boils over into rage and she unleashes her power on those that have wronged her, it feels incredibly satisfying. It’s a shame that the climax is marred by excessive and unnecessary usage of CG effects, but when compared to the overall experience this is a pretty minor irritant.
Carrie paints an authentic (and at times, uncomfortable) portrait of a young girl’s sense of alienation, loneliness, and desire to be understood and accepted by those around her. Director Kimberly Peirce plays it safe with this remake, keeping the story beats and plot progression nearly identical, but updating them for new audiences and providing insight in the evolution of bullying in the age of social media. It feels a bit familiar, but still fresh enough to warrant giving this one a look.