Carrie

Movie Name: Carrie
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Kimberly Pierce

Stars: Chloe Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, Judy Greer, Gabriella Wilde, Portia Doubleday, Alex Russell, Zoe Belkin, Barry Henley, Hart Bochner, Katie Strain

Genre: Drama, Horror

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

Though director Kimberly Pierce's career hasn't been very prolific, she has directed two interesting features, namely "Boys Don't Cry" and "Stop Loss". Her latest, "Carrie", is an adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name, a book that was also adapted by Brian de Palma in 1976, and that featured fantastic performances from Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie. The film follows the story of young Carrie White, who has been home schooled by her mom most of her life. Carrie's mom is a religious fanatic, who prevents Carrie from understanding life in general and from adjusting to her ongoing growth as a young woman. In parallel with her isolation, Carrie begins to realize she has developed telekinetic abilities. Following a particular humiliating episode, Carrie gets the attention of another student, who alongside her boyfriend, try to redeem themselves by inviting Carrie to the prom.
When the original "Carrie" premiered in 1976 it was a big hit with audiences, and the film has since then become a classic in the horror genre in general and Stephen King adaptations in particular. The contemporary adaptation could have been a fruitful one, however updating a classic needs more than adjusting the technology and devices that populate the story and give it context. Every remake needs a point of view that is unique and makes the film relevant. Brian de Palma has always been a filmmaker with a universe of his own - he made "Carrie" his own by inserting his aesthetic, and sensibility into every frame. Kimberly Pierce's adaptation in comparison feels generic, bland and devoid of any authorship. The sophisticated special effects still don't compensate for the anemic lack of vision that is clearly present in the film. The highlights end up being Julianne Moore and Judy Greer, both of whom create interesting, even if a bit one dimensional characters. Forgettable.