Carrie TV series from Mike Flanagan hailed as "a masterful adaptation" in first reviews

There have already been multiple screen adaptations of Stephen King's horror novel Carrie, but now another is on the way, and first reactions have landed.

The new take on Carrie is an eight-part Prime Video series from Mike Flanagan, who has previously been behind other King adaptations Gerald's Game, Doctor Sleep and The Life of Chuck.

All three of those have received strong reviews, and now it seems Flanagan has done it again, with early reactions to the first two episodes from film festival screenings proving glowing.

In a five star review, Filmhounds called the first two episodes "a masterful adaptation," adding that they can "pull anyone in – whether you were looking forward to this series or not, and whether or not you have strong feelings about the source material".

Meanwhile, JoBlo's review said that "Flanagan has done a really good job reimagining the material for a new generation," and Mama's Geekery said it's "far more than a routine remake".

That review said of the series: "It is a horrifying modernisation that made me even more worried about my daughters going to public school in a day and age when the internet and social media are so prevalent."

Praise was also give to Summer H Howell, who has taken on the role of Carrie this time around, following in the footsteps of iconic screen stars, including Sissy Spacek, Angela Bettis and Chloë Grace Moretz.

ScreenRant's review said of Howell: "She portrays Carrie as a deeply vulnerable, impressionable child, and one who feels different from previous versions, all while still remaining true to the character that Stephen King created."

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King himself has also praised the series, writing in a post on Threads: "Mike Flanagan's version of CARRIE is brilliant. What it has to say about social media is shocking and true."

The synopsis for the series, which also stars Samantha Sloyan, Siena Agudong, Alison Thornton, Joel Oulette, Josie Totah, Arthur Conti, Thalia Dudek, Amber Midthunder and Matthew Lillard, says: "Misfit high‑schooler Carrie White (Howell) has spent her life hidden away inside the walls of her home with her fiercely protective mother, Margaret (Sloyan).

"After her father’s sudden, untimely death thrusts her into the unforgiving ecosystem of public high school, Carrie is forced to navigate a viral bullying scandal that tears through her community, the relentless pressure and casual cruelty of the social‑media age, and the awakening of mysterious telekinetic powers that rise alongside her adolescence."

Carrie will arrive on Prime Video on 7 October. You can sign up to Amazon Prime Video for a 30-day free trial.

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Authors

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.