#SHOWBIZ: Haunting take on new 'Carrie'

THE haunting and heartbreaking remake of Stephen King's legendary horror story 'Carrie' has arrived. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mike Flanagan ('The Haunting of Hill House'), the eight-episode series premiered globally on Prime Video on Oct 7.

Adapted for television for the very first time, this fresh take expands King's 1974 debut novel into a deeply personal, modern tragedy.

The story follows Carrie White (Summer H. Howell), a misfit teenager raised in isolation by her fiercely protective, devout mother Margaret White (Samantha Sloyan).

When her father's sudden death forces Carrie into the brutal world of public high school, she is thrust into a viral bullying scandal, the relentless pressure of the social media age and the dangerous awakening of her own telekinetic powers.

A FRESH FACE IN A LEGENDARY ROLE

Landing the iconic role of Carrie was no small feat for newcomer Howell, who was chosen after a search involving nearly 1,500 actors.

Interestingly, Howell went into the audition without prior knowledge of the story.

"I hadn't seen any of the films or read the book," Howell told the 'New Straits Times' in a recent online interview.

"After getting the role, I asked Mike if he wanted me to read it. He said 'no' — we agreed it was best for me to focus on creating my own version of Carrie. We actually ended up watching the 1976 film together with the cast after we wrapped shooting!"

For Howell, capturing Carrie's journey meant tapping into universal teenage anxieties.

"Carrie is experiencing the world and people for the first time. I went to public school, so I remembered how uncomfortable those years could feel," she explained.

"Showing Carrie's initial curiosity and gratitude for the outside world was so important to me. At her core, she's optimistic, genuinely kind and just trying to fit in."

Of course, playing Carrie also meant tackling horror's most famous sequence: the shower scene.

"We spent a full day filming it," Howell recalled.

"It was exhausting with all the stunts and intense emotion, but the cast made it fun. At one point, I was sitting on a box off-camera while the other girls threw pads and tampons at the lens for a POV shot. It was crazy, but I love how it turned out."

MOTHER, MONSTER OR PROTECTOR?

Sloyan — a familiar face in Flanagan's projects — was initially worried the role might mirror her fanatically religious character, Beverly Keane, from 'Midnight Mass'. However, Flanagan had an entirely different vision for Margaret.

"He was imagining a brand-new Margaret — anchored first and foremost in love for her daughter. The tragedy comes from fear. Her ferocity and what makes her dangerous is her desperate reaction to that fear; the lengths she'll go to protect Carrie."

Sloyan highlights the striking contrast between mother and daughter as they step out into society together.

"Neither of them has left their home in 15 years. But while Carrie meets the world with curiosity and hope, Margaret meets it with suspicion and fear. If she feels Carrie is threatened, she puts on armour and goes to war."

Despite the intense on-screen dynamic, the bond off-camera was immediate.

"Filming with Sam (Sloyan) felt like a dream," Howell shared.

"Even when our characters were at odds, we made sure the love between them was always visible."

TIMELY THEMES FOR A MODERN WORLD

While Brian De Palma's Oscar-nominated 1976 feature film cemented 'Carrie' in pop culture history, Flanagan felt the story needed a modern reckoning.

"My oldest son was about to start secondary school, and as I wrestled with normal parental anxiety, I marvelled at how relevant King's core themes still are.

"Cruelty, empathy, bullying and school violence are even more crucial conversations today than they were 50 years ago."

Flanagan noted that the Internet and social media have reshaped youth culture in ways King couldn't have predicted in the 1970s.

Through its eight-episode runtime, the series explores how small, everyday choices can cascade into tragedy.

Ultimately, the cast hopes the series leaves viewers with a simple message.

"If you take anything away from watching 'Carrie', I hope it's to be kind," Howell concluded.

"It's so easy to be mean just to fit in, especially when hiding behind a screen. It takes real bravery to be kind."

'Carrie' is written and produced by Flanagan, with King also serving as executive producer.

Other cast members are Matthew Lillard, Heather Graham, Amber Midthunder, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, Josie Totah and Arthur Conti.