CARRIE - archive from 11th December 2013

Saw 'CARRIE' tonite, the remake of Brian De Palma's film of the same name from the late 70's, and based on Stephen King's debut cult classic horror story. 

This rendition has been brought up to date for the current era, but otherwise the setting and the theme offers little new. The famous Carrie in the shower scene remains largely unchanged except that this time it is captured in all it's bloody taunting glory on a smartphone and then beamed around the world on YouTube for all to see - this being the catalyst for Carrie's emerging telekinetic powers. The Prom set up and what follows is what you already know and the bloody aftermath reined down by Carrie as a result is well executed (pardon the pun!) but largely as expected, although the ending of the principle protagonist is creative and well handled. 

Where Sissy Spacek's Carrie was a humble plain Jane making it hard to take sides with, this Carrie played by the talented 15 year old and attractive Chloe Grace Moretz has the smarts and the looks to make you wonder why she would ever want for anything or anyone, or be as downtrodden as she is! Julianne Moore (always good) plays the more grounded deranged mother to Carrie and does so with menace and conviction, but a different approach and not necessarily as good as Piper Laurie's take on Mommy from the original. 

It all moves along at a good pace and has been made for a new audience unfamiliar with what is still the better version - Brian, Sissy and Piper win this one easily! Wait for the DVD and then you decide, and then watch them back to back to compare for yourself!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-