Reviews praise Mike Flanagan's Prime Video 'Carrie' as a modern reimagining of King's novel
Mike Flanagan's eight-episode Prime Video adaptation of Stephen King's 'Carrie' premieres on 7 October. The Independent and Variety both review it favourably, praising its updating of the story for the social media age.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 2Prime Video released all eight episodes of its TV adaptation of Stephen King's debut novel 'Carrie' on 7 October, with Mike Flanagan adapting it for television. VarietyLC “All eight episodes of “Carrie” premiere on Oct. 7 on Prime Video.” Read at Variety ↗ The IndependentLC “now an eight-episode TV adaptation from Amazon Prime” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 2The series is set in the present day and follows Carrie White (Summer H. Howell), who has lived under the control of a survivalist father and a religious mother, Margaret (Samantha Sloyan), until a death in the family sends Carrie to high school for the first time. VarietyLC “Carrie’s world cracks open after her father’s death, and she is jolted from the confines of her quaint home for the first time to attend high school.” Read at Variety ↗ The IndependentLC “The girl, Carrie White (Summer H Howell), has spent her life locked up with her survivalist father and overbearing mother, Margaret (Samantha Sloyan).” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 2The bullying Carrie suffers takes place largely online, through an anonymous Instagram gossip account called 'Carrie Red'; Variety says classmate Christine Hargensen (Alison Thornton) builds it. The IndependentLC “The bullying Carrie experiences happens largely online, via an anonymous Instagram account called “Carrie Red”.” Read at The Independent ↗ VarietyLC “who begins building a gossip Instagram account” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 1Variety calls the show a 'superb reimagining' that pays homage to King's writing and Brian De Palma's 1976 film, and says it captures what made the original timeless while returning agency to its young female leads. VarietyLC “Prime Video’s “Carrie” is a captivating reimagining of the oft-told story.”“This version of “Carrie” returns the agency to the young women at the center of the story.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1The Independent's Nick Hilton calls it a 'confident, well-paced adaptation' and says its portrayal of online bullying and the school's struggle to 'police the internet' feels 'incredibly pertinent'. The IndependentLC “This is a confident, well-paced adaptation with all the vibrance and slickness of a bucket of blood.”“feels incredibly pertinent” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 2Both reviews single out the cast: Variety calls Howell 'stellar', while the Independent calls Howell 'totally convincing' and names Amber Midthunder, as teacher Miss Desjardin, a standout. VarietyLC “Carrie White (a stellar Summer H. Howell)” Read at Variety ↗ The IndependentLC “with Amber Midthunder a standout as Miss Desjardin” Read at The Independent ↗
Left · 1The Independent is more reserved about the plot additions: it calls a shadowy world of telekinetics and a new character, Emaline, 'a distraction' and says the ending 'feels more like world-building than a final act', noting that Flanagan has said the show could run for three series. The IndependentLC “All of that feels like a distraction, introduced to raise the possibility that the series could be extended beyond the pages of King’s slim novel (Flanagan has said that he envisages the show running for three series).” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1Variety, by contrast, presents the broader mythology as a strength, saying the series lets Carrie connect with other young women with special abilities across the globe and ties the story to King's wider universe. VarietyLC “allowing the titular character to transcend her small town and connect with other young women with special abilities across the globe”“connecting it to his broader universe” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 2The reviews read the story against American society: the Independent places it among earlier adaptations released at moments of national turmoil, and Variety says the series portrays a contemporary America of technology, religious zealotry and brutality. Variety also says this Carrie avoids the fate of Sissy Spacek's character by using her pain to become 'bulletproof'. The IndependentLC “this new TV series arrives in the midst of the country’s ongoing identity crisis.” Read at The Independent ↗ VarietyLC “the show also paints a portrait of contemporary America inundated with technology, religious zealotry and brutality.” Read at Variety ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Both left-leaning outlets run favourable reviews that present the adaptation as a successful modern update of a classic horror story, centred on social media bullying and contemporary America.
- Emphasis
- Cast performances, the Instagram 'Carrie Red' bullying, and the show's relevance to current American society.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither review discusses production details, audience reaction or the series' commercial prospects beyond Flanagan's reported three-series plan; the Independent does not weigh the show's wider mythology as a strength, and Variety does not mention any weaknesses.
- Charged language
- “superb reimagining”“captivating reimagining”“Harrowing and fearless”“incredibly pertinent”“vibrance and slickness of a bucket of blood”
- For example
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“Prime Video’s “Carrie” is a captivating reimagining of the oft-told story.” — Variety
“This is a confident, well-paced adaptation with all the vibrance and slickness of a bucket of blood.” — The Independent
“Harrowing and fearless, this “Carrie” builds on the essential elements of King’s story” — Variety
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The eight-episode series is adapted by Mike Flanagan from Stephen King's 1974 novel and streams on Prime Video from 7 October.
- Summer H. Howell plays Carrie White, Samantha Sloyan plays Margaret White and Siena Agudong plays Sue Snell.
- The story is updated to the present day, with bullying carried out through an Instagram account called 'Carrie Red'.
- Both reviews are favourable.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the expanded mythology and new plot elements help the series
- Left
- The Independent calls the telekinetic world-building and new character Emaline 'a distraction' that makes the ending feel unfinished. Variety treats the wider connections, including to King's broader universe, as part of what makes the series work.
Mike Flanagan person
Reviewers credit Flanagan, described as a 'horror connoisseur' who prefers to rework literature for modern times, with a confident update. The Independent reports Flanagan has said the show could run for three series.
“adapted for TV by horror connoisseur Mike Flanagan” — Variety
“Flanagan prefers to rework literature for modern times.” — The Independent
Stephen King person
King's 1974 debut novel is the source material; reviewers say the series pays homage to it while updating it for the present.
“the show pays homage to King’s writing and Brian De Palma’s acclaimed 1976 film” — Variety
Left2 articles
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The IndependentLC · · Opinion
Carrie review – Vibrant, bloody TV adaptation feels incredibly pertinent
Sympathetic Positive review placing the series within the story's long adaptation history and the American mood, while questioning the added world-building.
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VarietyLC · · Opinion
Prime Video’s ‘Carrie’ Is a Superb Reimagining of the Classic Horror Tale: TV Review
Celebratory Enthusiastic review presenting the series as a superb reimagining that returns agency to its young female characters.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 7 Oct 06:00 First The IndependentLC Carrie review – Vibrant, bloody TV adaptation feels incredibly pertinent Opinion
- 7 Oct 14:30 +8h 30m VarietyLC Prime Video’s ‘Carrie’ Is a Superb Reimagining of the Classic Horror Tale: TV Review Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.