Carrie: A Fresh Take on an Old Classic
Estimated Read Time: 4 min
Let me start by saying I haven’t read Carrie. My decade-long project of reading Stephen King has taken me through several of his works, but not Carrie. The story of a bullied teenage girl is something I find hard to confront. However, I was drawn to watch Mike Flanagan’s latest adaptation of Carrie, now streaming on Prime Video.
The New Adaptation
Flanagan infuses the 1974 novel with modern themes, tapping into social media dynamics and highlighting the isolationist tendencies that plague Carrie White. The setting also features grim reminders of school shooter drills, reflecting our current reality.
Despite Flanagan’s unique take, the core story remains: a bullied girl who unleashes her supernatural powers on her classmates. However, this adaptation offers more than just a familiar narrative. It embodies the horror of adolescence in a compelling way, exploring how we sometimes lose parts of ourselves to fit in.
A Strong Performance
In casting, Summer H. Howell shines as Carrie, portraying a softer character compared to previous adaptations. Her innocence makes her struggles resonate deeply, especially as the story explores themes of mockery and tragedy.
The supporting characters, portrayed by Siena Agudong and Alison Thornton, showcase their own complexities instead of just embodying standard “mean girl” tropes. Their multidimensional portrayals enrich the narrative, making the bullying more relatable and impactful.
A Moral Exploration
While Carrie may not be Flanagan at his absolute best, it serves as a thoughtful morality play. The message that “hurt people hurt people” resonates throughout, and the absence of Flanagan’s signature scares allows for a more character-driven narrative.
Overall, the adaptation highlights the cruelties of teenage life, reminding us why stories like Carrie continue to be relevant. Adolescence serves as a microcosm for the wider world, where vulnerability often invites cruelty, leaving us to ponder the journey of surviving such formative years.
