Trailerblazing -- Carrie

Carrie -- October 18, 2013 -- directed by Kimberly Peirce -- starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, Judy Greer, Gabriella Wilde, Ansel Elgort, Portia Doubleday

Let us get this out of the way first. Brian De Palma perfectly captured the essence of Stephen King's novel. From the locker room revelation to that claustrophobic wreck of a house to the epic finale, all seen through a foggy lens of dread, the 1976 film is a horror classic. That said, I have always liked Peirce's work -- she is capable of finding a heart within every story -- and was excited to see that she was at the helm of the remake. From the looks of it, Moretz's transformation into the perennial outsider is seamless, and the screenplay is more faithful to the novel than De Palma's version was. I love the idea of Julianne Moore as Carrie's religious fanatic of a mother. She has never played a character like this one before and seems to be relishing every moment of Margaret White's insanity. I hope Doubleday does not disappoint as Chris Hargensen, the über witch-with-a-b, and am glad to see a number of newcomers in other crucial roles. The film eschews playing with stylistic elements such as cinematography and camera work in favor of a more traditional visual flair and effects, but these changes might be reflective of the era shift. On another note, I do hope that the film connects the principal character's plight with bullying as one of today's critical issues. If youth responds to anything, it is pop culture, and the remake might actually inspire some discussion in this context. A visceral and cautionary hyperbole for high school hierarchy, King's story does not lose power in any incarnation and I am looking forward to seeing Peirce unleash Carrie's psychic mayhem.