Stephen King's horror is reborn for a new generation: can critics still be shocked by THAT prom scene?
Carrie, the best-selling horror novel from author Stephen King, has been given a reboot to bring the chilling tale of one tortured young girl's supernatural skill to a new generation. Directed by Kimberley Peirce, the movie is the third adaptation of the scary tale and is currently opening in theaters across the world.
Chloe Grace Moretz Plays Carrie: A Girl With An Extraordinary Talent.
The movie centres upon a young girl (Chloe Grace Moretz), raised by her strict Christian mother (Julianne Moore) who punishes her by locking her in a cupboard and forcing her to pray. Her abuse at home is mirrored by her bullying at school which includes a humiliating experience in the girls' locker room upon the discovery of her first period. Carrie suddenly realises she has the power to move objects with her mind. However, her newfound and destructive skill only makes her more of an outcast when all she strives for is to be normal.
The movie's modernised take on Stephen King's classic horror novel includes Carrie's bullies using YouTube to embarrass her further and sees the young victim take to Google to research her rather unique skill and this results in a "bigger, more aggressive and much more generic finale," according to The Guardian.
"Kimberly Peirce's new adaptation of Carrie is surprisingly slavish to Brian De Palma's 1976 take [and] eventually devolves into lackluster modern horror cliches for a souped-up version of the famous finale."
The Hollywood Reporter praises Moore's performance in particular, writing "Moore is terrific, bringing just the right hint of restraint. She's less of a fire-and-brimstone loon than Piper Laurie in the 1976 film, but still plenty crazy, shuffling around the shadows like a J-horror ghoul [...] with her long witchy hair and dowdy sack-dresses."
However, the casting choice of the usually excellent 16 year-old Chloe Grace Moretz is questioned as "imperfect" but "captivating," and damningly, "She doesn't come close to the heartbreaking fragility and ethereality of Spacek."
The arresting trailer entices with scenes of bullying followed by rebellion and bloody revenge. We see Carrie as a vulnerable girl striving for normality but, in Peirce's 2013 version, that might be just what she gets.
Carrie will be released in the UK on the 29th November and in the USA from the 18th October.
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