By Melissa Antoinette Garza
I love films where the bullied get revenge on those that wronged them. Most likely my adoration for these movies stem from my lack of popularity during my younger days in school. I was made fun of, pushed down, punched, and was encouraged to commit suicide. God, high school sucked! So, when I was a kid and watched Sissy Spacek in Carrie (1976), I knew I would have sold my soul for her powers; and boy oh boy would I have caused chaos.
Thankfully, the ill-will I felt towards those that were idiots in school has long vanished. Admittedly, it makes it easier that those who were the worst to me, pretty much failed in life. Time has shown those that shined in high school can never overcome the fact that they peaked so young. Often enough on social media sites, an old classmate will find me and send a “friend request.” Usually, I decline. I just don’t have the inclination in reconnecting. Still, when the request comes in it will sometimes sadden me. It is just depressing to see people in their thirties still wearing their faded and torn letter jackets that haven’t been relevant in nearly 2 decades. Sadder still is to read their status updates that are filled with misery and discontentment about their wife, kids, job etc.
Still, I vividly remember the tears and hatred that encompassed me in my youth. So even today, these movies appeal to me. I love the original Carrie and to a lesser degree I enjoy The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999).
Jennifer (1978), both versions of The Initiation of Sarah (1978/2006), and Slaughter High (1986) are all lesser known movies with similar themes –and I enjoy them all.
I really believed that I would love the new Carrie. Though, the mini-series was impossible to watch, the new film appeared that it followed much of the previous movie so I was all for it.
Going in, the only apprehension I had was Julianne Moore as Margaret White. I just thought there were so many better choices. Meg
Foster for example would have been perfect. She was only just recently in Rob Zombie’s latest movie The Lords of Salem (2012) and the combination of her excellent acting and unique appearance (due greatly to her eye color) would have worked extremely well. Moore is just too gritty of an actress. She just couldn’t pull off the mad woman lost in religion. Her performance wasn’t believable. Rather than frightening and insane, Moore just came across annoying and abusive.
Another major issue with the film is the writing. Simple things like characters always referring to Carrie using her full name immediately takes the audience out of the film. Even when talking about something as specific as throwing tampons at Carrie, the bullies refer to her over and over again as “Carrie White.” How many other girls named Carrie do they toss sanitary pads at on a daily basis?
I will say that despite Chloe Grace Moretz being too pretty for the role, she pulled it off quite well. Something amazing about Sissy Spacek is that she is an undeniably beautiful woman who could not only believably portray a character looking plain but also one that was picked on mercilessly. Though Moretz could be a model, she is able to garnish sympathy in her performance.
The only time her acting failed was at the end and this may have been the choice of the director. In the original, it was as if Carrie was entranced when she began to destroy everything. There was no real thought, she was acting on emotion.
Here the actions, movements and mannerisms of Moretz made it appear more intentional and therefore one is not inclined to feel forgiveness as there were innocents present and a lot of collateral damage.
The storyline is very similar to the first. A few minor changes have been made. This one lacked atmosphere and tone. To its credit, the pace was quick, but it never felt like I was watching a horror movie. It felt more like watching The Craft (1996) than anything remotely scary.
This is certainly one that can wait for a DVD release. It’s not the worst horror movie I’ve seen all year. I would actually say it’s better than Lords of Salem. That said, I find it sad that this obtained a theatrical release while Curse of Chucky (2013) went straight to DVD. Still, I can’t complain too much. This year did bring us The Conjuring (2013) which was the best horror movie in years!
Sadly, I made a deal with my husband and brother-n-law that if they went to see this with me, I would watch the hell that is sure to be FoodFight (2012) with them. Therefore, my night includes a poorly animated Charlie Tuna, Mister Clean and Mrs. Buttersworth with the voices of Charlie Sheen and Wayne Brady! The good news is by the end of today, I may have a higher opinion of the new Carrie. I swear if FoodFight is the better flick, I’ll go nuts!
Scared Stiff Rating: 4.5/10
