Synopsis:
Born to a pious mother who believes she is being tested by God, high school student Carrie White grows up shy, awkward, and sheltered. Jokes and misunderstandings at school follow, as Carrie learns she is possessive of special powers, and wreaks havoc on her peers.

Cast:
Chloë Grace Moretz is the telekinetic outcast with a loner, religious mother played by Julianne Moore. Judy Greer meanwhile plays the gym teacher at school that attempts to look out for the young Carrie.

Review:
Earlier this year, another remake of a classic, beloved horror film was released as Evil Dead was presented to a new generation. While the original was terrifying, campy, and even cheesy, the new version sought to play it straight and gross out audiences with excessive gore. Regardless of how you felt about the new version, it at least had a goal and a purpose.

Carrie has neither. Not long into this perfunctory remake, it seems that the poor editing, bad makeup, and stilted dialogue would offer some laughs and eye-rolling, but instead it all comes together as something that is simply boring.

Hardly a re-imagination as perhaps the filmmakers would have you believe, there is little to get interested in, and even less to be scared by. It may not be easy to recreate some particularly iconic scenes, but they should at least have some effect. Instead, the early shower scene, encounters between Carrie and her mother, and the prom prank leave you with a blank stare.

Seemingly bathed in oranges and reds, the visuals lack the punch they should have. Carrie and her mother are frequently lackluster, and it’s clear they are to be much more startling. The young Moretz is admirable, and while she is effective alternating among confusion, fear, and rage, there isn’t enough around her to help her cause.

What’s most stunning is the utter lack of tension, and it has nothing to do with knowing what is happening (note any of the recent historical dramas released). A brief moment at the start, as Carrie is birthed and threatened, is somewhat challenging to the viewer, but everything deflates immediately after. Even as our culture grows more aware and concerned about bullying in schools, this film fails to raise the least bit of emotion from the viewer, something perhaps easier to do today more than ever.

The climatic ending offers some enjoyment as Carrie’s rampage begins, but only because the standards have been lowered and the film is near its finale. Even while watching though, unimpressive special effects remind you that this offering is just consistently lazy, and seems to have been made out of obligation and not passion.

Should You See It?
Just about any other horror out now would be more satisfying. Watch the original, and move on.

[star v=1]