Prime Video's 'Carrie' is one of the best shows I’ve seen this year — and Stephen King fans shouldn’t miss it

Introduction to a Classic Reimagined

Few horror stories have had quite the life cycle of “Carrie.” Stephen King’s debut novel was first published in 1974, introducing readers to Carrie White, a bullied teenager with telekinetic powers and a deeply troubled home life. Just two years later, Brian De Palma turned it into the iconic 1976 movie starring Sissy Spacek, and "Carrie" has continued to be reimagined ever since. There’s been a sequel, a 2002 television movie and a 2013 remake, alongside stage adaptations, and now the Stephen King story has been turned into an eight-episode Prime Video series.

A Fresh Take by Mike Flanagan

This new version comes from Mike Flanagan, which is particularly exciting for me because I’m a huge fan of his work. I’ve always loved King’s stories, but “Carrie” has a special place for me. It’s such a simple premise on the surface, but there’s so much going on underneath the horror, from bullying and isolation to family, religion and the cruelty people can inflict on each other. Flanagan also didn’t want to simply remake the same story we’ve already seen. He’s described this as the first time he’s had the opportunity to take one of King’s works apart and build something new from its pieces.

Exploring Teenage Cruelty in a Modern World

Stephen King’s “Carrie” was always a story about bullying, cruelty and what can happen when someone is pushed too far. At its heart, it looks at the lasting impact that high school can have on young people, especially those who already feel isolated or vulnerable.

The new series keeps that idea at the center of the story, but brings it into a much more modern world. Phones and social media have given teenagers new ways to humiliate each other, with cruel moments able to be filmed, shared and replayed long after they happen. That makes Carrie’s story feel just as relevant today, and I’m glad the series doesn’t shy away from that.

Expanded Family History and Character Dynamics

What Flanagan has done here is expand Carrie’s family history, including the grief she experiences after losing her father, which is a notable change from the book, where her father is simply absent from her life. The series also spends more time showing how isolated Carrie and her mother have been, leaving Carrie largely unfamiliar with the modern world and the dangers that come with it. That makes her first experience of high school even more heartbreaking. She goes in excited to finally experience something outside the sheltered life she’s known, only to quickly discover how cruel her classmates can be.

Summer H. Howell is one of the show’s biggest strengths, largely because she doesn’t try to imitate Sissy Spacek’s iconic performance. Instead, Howell’s Carrie feels more curious, kind and genuinely excited about discovering the world outside the sheltered life she’s known. That fits with Flanagan’s decision to reinvent the character rather than simply recreate the 1976 movie. It’s also why the series feels more like a character drama than a straightforward horror story.

Final Verdict: A Bold New Adaptation

Ultimately, this is a really strong series that feels closer to an award-worthy character drama with horror elements than a straightforward horror show. That should still make it an easy recommendation for Stephen King fans, especially anyone looking for a fresh take on a story they already know. I do have some concerns about the ending and the decision to potentially expand this world beyond Carrie’s story, but even those issues don’t take away from how much I enjoyed watching it. For me, this is a confident, surprisingly emotional reinvention of a classic.