Review: Carrie is a triumphant remix with one major flaw

The 22-year-old Howell, best known to date for playing Alison Pierce in the Chucky franchise, beat out 1,400 young actresses to play Carrie. She didn’t even read King’s novel or watch the 1976 movie, so she could interpret Flanagan’s take on the character. Spacek defined the role, but Howell redefines it with just as much assurance. She hits every single note, registers every small shift in expression and emotion, in a stellar performance that should cement her status as a gifted young actress on the rise.

WARNING: Major spoilers for the Mike Flanagan series below. Stop reading now if you haven’t finished watching.)

“F*&k you, I exist”

Lillard brings a jaded weariness to Principal Grayle—a once-idealistic educator whose kindness has been beaten into submission. But he still shows some fire when Chris’ high-powered lawyer father, John (Michael Trucco), threatens to sue the school, reminding John (in a moment lifted from the novel) that, by his reasoning, the school could counter-sue and that Chris’ long history of bullying would be laid open during discovery.

In the De Palma film, John Travolta’s Billy was a dim-witted jock, bonded to Nancy Allen’s vapid Chris by hormonal lust and their shared nasty, brutish natures. Neither had any redeeming qualities. That’s not the case in Flanagan’s series. Arthur Conti’s Billy is a high school dropout who works on a farm when not dealing drugs to partying high schoolers. He’s dark and broody, smart and sarcastic, a compulsive rule-breaker. And he’s dangerous—catnip for a spoiled, rebellious golden girl like Chris, whose perfect life has unexpectedly hit the skids. Her parents are divorcing, the father she idolizes is facing financial ruin, and since she didn’t apply for financial aid in time, she can’t join her bestie, Sue (Siena Agudong), at Duke University in the fall.

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