Amazon's Carrie Series Review: Mike Flanagan's FINEST work by far!

Oct 19

5 min read

Updated: Oct 21

WRITTEN BY: JOHN DARIUS - @JDarius28

The year 2026 has been an incredible turnaround for global cinema. Audiences are steadily returning to theaters, restoring a sense of normalcy to the industry.

With October finally here, I can officially say that one of my favorite times of the year has arrived: Halloween! As a film geek, I've always loved the fall season because of the dozens of highly anticipated projects on the way!

One show in particular that has long captured my eye is Amazon Prime's new adaptation of Stephen King's beloved 1974 novel, CARRIE!! Overseen by a cinema legend of the modern age, Mike Flanagan. This new rendition of an adored coming-of-age story offers a deeper insight into one of horror's most famous icons on film. Now featuring an exceptionally talented ensemble cast. All led by whom I believe is another one of Hollywood's most outstanding stars to date, Summer H. Howell! Widely known for her role as Alice in 2013's Curse of Chucky, Howell takes the lead in what may be Flanagan's finest work by far!

Much like the novel and previous adaptations that have come before, the new series follows:

The story of a young misfit high-school girl, Carrie White, who gradually discovers that she has telekinetic powers. Repressed by a domineering, ultra-religious mother and tormented by her peers at school, her efforts to fit in lead to a dramatic confrontation during the senior prom.

Right away, I will start by stating that many directors in the past have brought interesting twists to what is regarded as a timeless tale & reflection on the unfortunate, darker realities we witness throughout life. Each retelling has its fans that are loyal to a personal favorite they hold close to home. Now, while I respect the many tastes that exist, none of the previous titles arguably hold a candle to what director Mike Flanagan has established with this new revival take on one of the most tragic, sympathetic characters within fiction, Carrie White. Flanagan has not only set himself apart from previous iterations, but most importantly, handled this property with an immense amount of empathy for the writer, Stephen King & of course, real people who have suffered tragedies similar to what transpires within this heartbreaking story.

BREAKOUT STAR: SUMMER H. HOWELL - CARRIE WHITE :

Breakout star Summer H. Howell is absolute GOLD to witness on screen. The compassion, strength, & heart this young woman brings to the portrayal of Carrie is both insanely jaw-dropping, yet easily one of the finest performances I've had the utmost pleasure of seeing unfold through the course of 8 episodes. The genuine humanity she conveys in this series is infectious & will leave viewers yearning for more. It is what I'd call pitch-perfect casting by Flanagan. An amazing duo that actually makes storytelling all the more worth it. While adding a much-needed flair to an already treasured genre.

In these last few months, we have already begun to see some incredible young talents take the world by storm. Ranging from HBO's Lanterns' Aaron Pierre, One Battle After Another Chase Infiniti, Netflix's Frankenstein Jacob Elordi, Scream 7's Isabel May, & most recently 2025's Obsession Inde Navarrette. Finally, I can confidently state we have yet another remarkable A-lister in the mix: Summer H. Howell, who's sure to leave a mark within this new age of cinema. I, for one, cannot wait to see what more she has planned for the future. No doubt in my mind, Amazon's Carrie is truly just the beginning...

ALISON THORNTON - CHRISTINE HARGENSEN :

Another rising talent I am proud to speak of is Alison Thornton, who plays the antagonist & school bully, Chris Hargensen. Thornton does a terrific job with the material she is given in this new remake, & while it may be fair for audiences to have a dislike for the character she portrays on the show, I would like to remind everyone that this is still a form of acting, & shouldn't at all be blended with who the actual talent is off camera.

This was my first time seeing Thornton in action as an actor, & I will honestly say her performance, along with the chemistry she had with Howell on screen, captured, in essence, the soul of just how devastating this story is at its core. Two young teenagers at the mercy of the faults made by their parents' actions. Whether it's tackling conversations on what it means to be overprotective or becoming emotionally distant, both Carrie & Christine are just trying to navigate life in different ways, and unfortunately suffer outcomes I believe neither at heart may have truly wanted for the other. A rivalry that is emotionally gut-wrenching & will surely leave audiences speechless by its climax.

SAMANTHA SLOYAN - MARGARET WHITE :

Samantha Sloyan, who portrays Margaret White, the mother of Carrie, is another easy standout amongst the cast, & embodied a lot more human spirit than I expected. Personally, I found Sloyan's version of Margaret harder to truly dislike in this new iteration compared to previous actors in earlier films. There was so much tenderness and heart within her performance that it clouds out some of the psychotic traits Margaret is best known to have throughout the story. In many ways, she is a victim trapped by the unhealthy, intense paranoia of her late husband & Carrie's father, Ralph White, played by Tahmoh Penikett. This deep-seated fear of both the outside world and of being a mother who only wants to keep her daughter's innocence intact heavily bleeds into her relationship with Carrie.

It is a story that I conclude calls into question when a parent must let go & allow their children to fully embrace their own paths, no matter the mistakes they may make along the way. Amongst the entire cast, Sloyan and Howell are the main bread & butter of this entire series. The magnetic energy these two bring on camera is both brilliant, yet emotionally soul-shattering at its center. I cannot say enough how fantastic these two actors are as a whole. Wonderful work across the board!

OTHER MOST NOTABLE NAMES :

Finally, before I share my last words for the show, I want to give major props to other notable names involved, being: Matthew Lillard, Amber Midthunder, Joel Oulette, Siena Agudong, & Thalia Dudek. All of whom were an absolute pleasure to see work together & have delivered some truly unforgettable performances that I believe audiences will come to appreciate over time. Nothing short of amazing, & I am eager to see each of them bring more of their skills to the forefront in more upcoming projects down the road.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Amazon's Carrie proves yet again what happens when great source material is bought into the hands of a terrific talent like Mike Flanagan! As a horror fan, I feel more than satisfied & got exactly what I wanted for the Halloween Season! I pray Amazon is kind enough to gift us, viewers, with more in the near future. Thankfully, Flanagan has already openly shared a possible plan for an arc that can run for three entire seasons. A captivating story created by writer Stephen King, which Flanagan has gracefully expanded upon so far, and I presume will be cherished for years to come!

Thank you all for taking the time to read my full thoughts, and I hope my words may have influenced you or friends to watch and support the series. Along with the extraordinary cast & director who helped bring to light a wonderfully well-made modern vision based on one of Stephen King's greatest novels to date! Have an amazing week ahead, everyone, & please keep an eye out for more articles I plan to share in the future. Take care!

FOR MORE - CHECK OUT :

AMAZON MGM STUDIOS CARRIE TRAILER: