Carrie (2013) review

 Unlike the 1976 original the 2013 adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel did not feature on the top 1000 films of all time.

Carrie White (Chloe Grace-Moretz) is the most unpopular girl in school. She is bullied mercilessly by her classmates and tormented by her fanatically religious mother Margaret (Julianne Moore). Carrie soon discovers she has telekinetic powers which she uses to exact her revenge on all those who have wronged her.

Something that always bothered me about the 1976 film was its portrayal of Carrie.

*spoilers ahead*

Up until the ending, it showed her as an innocent victim pushes too far by her classmates. That is until she is shown haunting her classmate Sue (the only person who tried making up for how she treated Carrie) from beyond the grave. This was a move that very much countermanded all of Carrie's character development. She was no longer a bullied victim, but a vengeful, malevolent spirit. I was pleased to see that the remake didn't follow this same idea even if that was their original plan. Carrie remained a symbol of what happens when the bullied kid finally snaps. 

In the 1975 film, Sissy Spacek received universal praise and an Oscar nod for her portrayal of Carrie. Chloe Grace-Moretz was just as good in creating a balanced and nuanced character who was both sympathetic and pitiful. I saw this in theatres over ten years ago and the scene I still remember is Carrie breaking down in fear when her mother locks her in the prayer closet. Some have said this horror film is light on scares, but I'd argue this scene is pretty damn scary.

Julianne Moore was also great as Carrie's unhinged, religiously fanatical mother. Out of the different villains in this film, she is probably the scariest. When you understand the way she is, it's no surprise that Carrie turned out so socially awkward. Moore was definitely better than Portia Doubleday, Alex Russell and Krissa Strain who played Carrie's bullies. A mixture of subpar acting and thin characterisations made them little more than your standard, two-dimensional high school bullies.

You could certainly argue that this remake of Carrie wasn't necessary, but as studio executives pointed out, high-school bullying is as much of a problem now as it was in the seventies - worse with the advent of phones, social media and cyber-bullying. If we don't more to protect victims, we're going to have a whole load more Carries on our hands.