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Get ready, because another Stephen King classic is getting a redesign. Carrie, King’s breakout hit, has seen multiple adaptations (including a stage musical). Now, it’s coming to streaming as an eight-episode limited series and present-day horror hit-maker Mike Flanagan is running the show.
The series, much like the original Brian De Palma movie, follows the unfortunate tale of a young woman named Carrie White. If you’re completely unfamiliar with the story, Carrie is a sheltered girl who is subjected to the cruelty of the world (and high school). And, oh yeah, she has psychic powers.
Taking the reins from Sissy Spacek, who starred as Carrie in the original 1976 movie, is Summer H. Howell. Joining her in the cast is Samantha Sloyan as Margaret White, Matthew Lillard as Principal Grayle, Amber Midthunder as Miss Desjardin, Arthur Conti as Billy, Siena Agudong as Sue Snell and Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen.
If you’re expecting this iteration of Carrie to be a retread of previous adaptations, you’re in for a surprise. The horror series (which Flanagan plans to last for three seasons) unveils new dimensions to the story, expands the world and exposes unseen character details that’ll have you rethinking the whole King narrative.
But, before I get into all of that, let’s talk about how you can watch season 1 of Carrie.
Read more: 8 Great Horror Movies to Watch on Prime Video Now
How to watch every episode of Carrie
The entire season of Carrie drops on Wednesday at 12 a.m. PT (3 a.m. ET) on Prime Video.
While this episode release model is nothing new for Flanagan, whose previous Netflix series, like The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass and The Fall of the House of Usher, released all their episodes at once, having every episode available at once on the Amazon-owned streamer is more unusual, but not uncommon.
Here’s the complete class schedule, I mean episode title listing, for season 1 of Carrie:
Episode 1: First Period
Episode 2: Foreign Language
Episode 3: Social Studies
Episode 4: Dramatic Arts
Episode 5: Physical Education
Episode 6: Home Economics
Episode 7: Romantic Literature
Episode 8: AP Physics
To watch every episode of Carrie, you’ll need access to Prime Video, which is one of the membership perks of Amazon Prime. The service costs $15 per month or $139 per year. If you’d like a membership but don’t want to shell out the dollars for Amazon Prime, you can get Prime Video for $9 per month.
How does Carrie differ from the classic horror movie?
Let me be clear: When I discuss Carrie, the horror movie, I am referencing the De Palma movie, which came out 50 years ago. Since its release, there has been a sequel and two other adaptations based on King’s book. But I am not discussing those.
There are a bunch of differences between the movie and the upcoming TV show. During the press day over Zoom, I spoke with members of the cast and Flanagan himself to dig into some of these changes. To avoid major spoilers, I will only discuss the standout ones. That said, if you want to go into Prime Video’s Carrie blind, I suggest turning back now.
The young cast looks like high school students. Age-wise, there’s not a huge disparity between Spacek (who was 26) and Howell (who is 22), for instance, but the main characters in the series are believable as teenagers. John Travolta, who played Billy Nolan in the movie, was 22 at the time. I swear, though, when going back and revisiting the movie, he looks much older.
The high school faculty plays an important role. Unlike in the original, this version of Carrie builds out the world of Ewen High School. Instead of just focusing on the drama that transpires between Carrie White and her peers, the Prime Video series takes a look at the educational system itself and the dynamic between the teachers and principal who are trying to maintain order, the parents who strive for influence and have ulterior motives and the kids who are just trying to traverse the difficult landscape they’re stuck in.
Social media sparks the fire. There is a narrative throughline that sparks a whole load of conflict throughout the series, ultimately leading to the chaotic climax at prom. It all starts with a malicious meme account. But if you think the damage that the social media stunt causes ends with Carrie White, you’ll be totally wrong.
“They’re doing their best to save these kids,” Lillard told me over Zoom. “The thing that’s interesting here is that Mike Flanagan paints an entire community in jeopardy because of the actions of one kid on social media, and I think it’s our job as administrators, as teachers, as leaders in that school space to protect the kids first and foremost. It’s a very complicated story.”
Carrie’s mom isn’t the monster from King’s book. Piper Laurie delivered an iconic portrayal of Margaret White in De Palma’s movie, solidifying her character as an all-time terrifying great in the upper echelons of horror cinema. Flanagan decided to flip the script on the character in his version of the story, making Margaret White a relatable mother who’s just trying her best.
“Margaret White has always been defined in every other adaptation by, I think, her fear and hatred of her daughter,” Flanagan explained. “From the beginning, we were talking about, like, what’s the opposite of Margaret White? She’s not driven by this fear and resentment and hatred of her daughter. She loves her. She loves her completely, and she doesn’t know how to keep her safe because she doesn’t understand this modern world.”
Needless to say, it’s an unexpected departure, and it makes the Carrie tragedy a more layered, complex and heartbreaking tale.
Prime Video’s Carrie may be connected to other works by King. What do I mean by that? Well, I said above that I’m avoiding spoilers. So, you’ll just have to watch the show to find out.
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