To date, every remake of Carrie has failed to near the power of Brian De Palma's 1976 classic. Flanagan, known for The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, is the man behind Carrie's first miniseries adaptation and, according to critics, he knows the original cannot be replicated. His version remixes the story with a modern-day setting, sweeping reflections on contemporary America and a focus on cyberbullying, an approach previously attempted by the 2013 remake.
While the basic plot, characters and classic scenes (Carrie pelted with sanitary products, a prom queen soaked in pig's blood) are present, not everything connects. Purists may take issue with the central role an anonymous Instagram account plays in Carrie's bullying, leading to scenes reminiscent of Gossip Girl or Mean Girls. Flanagan introduces elements from King's novel not seen in other adaptations, but original characters such as Carrie's mysterious friend Emeline (Thalia Dudek) do not necessarily add much. Some plots feel like they exist purely to stretch King's unusually short novel into a 6.5-hour, eight-episode event, but they are likely setting up something more: Flanagan has stated he envisions his Carrie as a "three season" series.
The biggest difference, however, is Carrie herself. Summer H. Howell bears a striking similarity to De Palma's lead, Sissy Spacek, but brings her own interpretation to King's anguished teen.