The new Carrie series on Prime Video is better than you think ‣ Diverse Daily

The horror season is nearing, and one of the most anticipated new shows of fall offers a take on a popular story by a modern master. Mike Flanagan, who treated audiences to a roster of horror stories on Netflix, including The Haunting of Hill House, has found a new home at Amazon Prime this year. His first show with the new network: revisiting Stephen King’s Carrie.

Audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival got a sneak peek of the series as part of the event’s Primetime program. Those in attendance screened the first two episodes, and they were definitely something special. Here’s what you need to know.

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Carrie is nuanced, scary, and immersive

Great writing and acting ground this chilling tale

It’s quite a bold move to take on such an iconic story. Not only is Carrie so well-known, it’s also immortalized beyond the page. The original movie is so popular, with such unforgettable imagery, that it takes a lot of conviction to retell it as a series. But from the first two episodes, I’m absolutely sold on Flanagan’s vision and ready to binge the entire series.

Firstly, he doesn’t shy away from the ending, which just about everyone knows. The series starts with images of a burning school and a series of voices calling the police for help. That’s followed by various people sitting in an interrogation room being asked about what exactly happened. A high school senior named Sue (Siena Agudong) is the one who stands out among the group, telling the officers (and the audience) that you don’t know what really happened because you’re not asking the right questions.

It’s a clever way to start the series; most people know what will happen, but meeting the characters and developing connections, as well as building tension, is key. And Flanagan does just that. After an accident, police find young Carrie and her protective mother in a closet at home. Their sheltered life has to become more open after the death of Carrie’s father, which results in her attending school for the first time and her mother getting a job.

What stands out the most is the layers to all the characters. Carrie is more than a shut-in; she’s smart, curious, and sweet. Her mother, while at times cruel and paranoid, is given a few moments of sympathy. It’s a story that challenges the audience, especially during a school shooter drill: all the students are used to this exercise, but Carrie isn’t, and she responds with panic and fear. When her mother confronts the school leadership, it’s hard not to side with her for calling them out for traumatizing children.

The teachers are complex also, neither good nor bad. They are trying, some more than others, and they are not unaware of Carrie’s struggles being the new person at school. Matthew Lillard is terrific as the principal, while Amber Midthunder plays a prominent role as a young gym teacher also struggling to fit in. There is a tender moment between Carrie and her guidance counselor that may bring you to tears.

And that there is the genius of Flanagan. Indeed, there are jump scares and creepy moments and the promise of a bloody finale, but his horror stories always explore genuine emotions and experiences, from love and grief to friendship and community. He uses horror as a means to explore fascinating topics, and Carrie seems to be just that. Because even the senior who serves as the central bullying figure and is best friends with Sue gets a full backstory involving divorcing parents who aren’t supportive or interested in her life. When her father talks down to her and undermines her future, it’s clear where her bullying of Carrie comes from.

There is one other thread that is teased and yet to be explored. I think there is far more to this story than anyone would expect.

How can you watch Carrie?

Coming soon to Amazon Prime Video

If you didn’t catch it at TIFF this year, you don’t have to worry about waiting too long. Carrie is coming to stream in time for the TV horror season. You also won’t have to wait to watch the entire series.

All eight episodes of Carrie will drop on Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday, October 7. Whether you want to binge them all or space them out is up to you, but it may be hard to resist the temptation to wait, especially after a first episode that is pretty spellbinding.

If you’re interested in Carrie, check out these Netflix shows

Flanagan made five series for the streamer

If you’re unfamiliar with his work but eager to check out Carrie, you may want to visit some of his Netflix shows to get a feel for his style. They’re also great to revisit if you’ve seen them and can’t wait for his new show. The Haunting of Hill House and Fall of The House of Usher are perhaps the two genuinely scary ones, with the latter offering a bloody and modern take on the classic Edgar Allan Poe story.

Flanagan also made The Haunting of Bly Manor, which is a beautiful love story dressed up as a horror tale. The Midnight Club is a younger take on scary stories, while Midnight Mass shares some traits with Widow’s Bay, except that there’s not really a lot of humor. They are all definitely worth checking out if you’re ready to lean into scary stories.