Mike Flanagan's latest adaptation takes on Stephen King's most famous and beloved novel with "Carrie," an eight-episode series arriving on Prime Video. While Flanagan has previously adapted King's "Doctor Sleep" and other lesser-known stories, this project marks his most ambitious crossover yet with the author's celebrated work.
The series begins with survivors of the titular prom incident being interviewed, offering a framing device that quickly gives way to the main narrative. Set weeks earlier, the story introduces Carrie White (Summer H. Howell) and her deeply religious, isolated mother Margaret (Samantha Sloyan) after Carrie's father dies in a workplace accident. Authorities mandate that Margaret find employment and enroll Carrie in school, forcing them into the outside world.
A Modern Take on High School Horror
Upon entering high school, Carrie becomes the target of intense bullying, spearheaded by the popular Chris Hargensen (Alison Thornton). The harassment escalates with the creation of an anonymous Instagram account, "Carrie Red," used to spread rumors and terrorize students. Despite the school principal's (Matthew Lillard) inaction, the pressure begins to awaken Carrie's latent telekinetic abilities. Simultaneously, Margaret attempts to combat cyberbullying by launching her own online crusade, which veers into vigilantism. The series uses these modern anxieties, alongside the looming threat of school shooting drills, to update the classic narrative for contemporary audiences.
Flanagan introduces subplots and complexities, such as a nuanced story for Chris and the staff's own struggles with online bullying, which extend the narrative beyond the familiar beats. This approach, while occasionally slowing the pacing, intensifies the agony of watching the town unravel under the weight of social media accusations, building suspense toward Carrie's inevitable psychic outburst.
Character Reinventions
Samantha Sloyan's portrayal of Margaret White offers a significant departure from previous interpretations. This Margaret is depicted as a complex, compassionate figure whose harmful tendencies stem from fear. Her journey into the online world, initially an attempt to protect Carrie, leads her to become entangled in parasocial relationships and power dynamics. Sloyan's performance avoids casting Margaret as a clear villain or hero, presenting instead a deeply flawed woman whose attempts to do right ultimately fail.
The adult cast, including Flanagan regulars like Rahul Kohli and Amber Midthunder, deliver strong performances. However, the younger cast sometimes struggles to match the intensity of the dialogue, which frequently centers on typical teenage concerns like dating, parties, and college, alongside social media pressures. Despite this, the performances are largely compelling, with many of the actors in their early twenties convincingly portraying high school students.
Flanagan also weaves in connections to Stephen King's wider literary universe, a deviation from the source material and Brian De Palma's film adaptation. These additions, largely reserved for the series' conclusion, set the stage for potential future seasons, as Flanagan has outlined a three-season plan. The series concludes with a cliffhanger that occurs after the well-known prom scene, signaling a larger narrative that may depend on Amazon's reception and algorithmic decisions.
Despite the expanded scope and narrative liberties, the existing eight episodes provide a daring and complete retelling of Carrie White's iconic story. "Carrie" releases Oct. 7 on Prime Video.