When it comes to iconic scenes in cinema, the destructive finale from Brian de Palma's 1976 horror classic Carrie is up at the top. Even if you haven't seen the movie, you're more likely aware of just what happens when the big blood hits the troubled telekinetic Carrie White as she is crowned prom queen. It's such a classic scene that this remake made it part of it's advertising campaign, from posters to trailers to a viral ad which featured a telekinetic attack in a coffee shop. Wearing it's third act on it's sleeve, Carrie is clearly depending on the popularity of the original, and the Stephen King novel on which it is based, to get bum on seats. Unfortunately, while it was touted as "a much more faithful adaption" of the novel, it proves to a pale imitator of the original movie, offering nothing new, other than souped up special effects and a modern makeover.
For those not aware of the story, the facts are these: Carrie White (Chloe Grace Moretz) is a bullied high school student, who also has to deal with a troubled home life, thanks to her religious zealot of a mother (Julianne Moore). On top of that, she has to deal with growing telekinetic powers. All these problems come to a head on the night of her high school prom
Kicking off with a scene of Carries birth (which just seems to be in there for nothing more than shock value), it soon slips into familiar territory, not just from the original but from any number high school revenge movies. It's clear pretty early on that the real point of this movie is to get to the prom massacre. The story is secondary, and the movie just seems to killing time till the third act begins. It's a trap of remaking such an iconic film, one that could have easily side stepped by adding something new, but beyond the addition of mobile phones and social networks, it's more of the same. O.k., it does attempt to add in a plot point from the novel involving Gabrielle Wilde's Sue Snell, but, ultimately, it goes nowhere and feels shoehorned in. The special effects do add something, but the sight of Carrie floating above the stage, chaos reigning around her, doesn't have the same power the originals split screen and eerie red lighting had.
I may be coming down hard on the movie, but it still an enjoyable experience, and one of the better remakes out there. Director Kimberly Peirce has certainly produced a exceptionally good looking movie, which ratchets up the tension nicely for those who don't know whats coming. Moretz puts in a fine performance in the lead role, capturing Carrie as the outsider she is, a person who seems like she was raised in a bubble and is so scared of everything around her. Her growing confidence, both in her powers and personality is portrayed perfectly, even though the satisfaction she exhibits at finally striking back at her tormentors comes off as a bit off. Julianne Moore cuts an imposing figure as Margaret White, exuding crazy from every pore, and puts in a really unsettling performance at times. The supporting players, besides Judy Greer, don't make much of an impact.
This has been called a Carrie for a new generation, and thinking about it is. Pity it is just the previous generation's Carrie with a modern make over. Not a bad movie by any means, just a poor copy.
For those not aware of the story, the facts are these: Carrie White (Chloe Grace Moretz) is a bullied high school student, who also has to deal with a troubled home life, thanks to her religious zealot of a mother (Julianne Moore). On top of that, she has to deal with growing telekinetic powers. All these problems come to a head on the night of her high school prom
Kicking off with a scene of Carries birth (which just seems to be in there for nothing more than shock value), it soon slips into familiar territory, not just from the original but from any number high school revenge movies. It's clear pretty early on that the real point of this movie is to get to the prom massacre. The story is secondary, and the movie just seems to killing time till the third act begins. It's a trap of remaking such an iconic film, one that could have easily side stepped by adding something new, but beyond the addition of mobile phones and social networks, it's more of the same. O.k., it does attempt to add in a plot point from the novel involving Gabrielle Wilde's Sue Snell, but, ultimately, it goes nowhere and feels shoehorned in. The special effects do add something, but the sight of Carrie floating above the stage, chaos reigning around her, doesn't have the same power the originals split screen and eerie red lighting had.
I may be coming down hard on the movie, but it still an enjoyable experience, and one of the better remakes out there. Director Kimberly Peirce has certainly produced a exceptionally good looking movie, which ratchets up the tension nicely for those who don't know whats coming. Moretz puts in a fine performance in the lead role, capturing Carrie as the outsider she is, a person who seems like she was raised in a bubble and is so scared of everything around her. Her growing confidence, both in her powers and personality is portrayed perfectly, even though the satisfaction she exhibits at finally striking back at her tormentors comes off as a bit off. Julianne Moore cuts an imposing figure as Margaret White, exuding crazy from every pore, and puts in a really unsettling performance at times. The supporting players, besides Judy Greer, don't make much of an impact.
This has been called a Carrie for a new generation, and thinking about it is. Pity it is just the previous generation's Carrie with a modern make over. Not a bad movie by any means, just a poor copy.
