Reviews: Carrie (Remake) (2013) Movie Review / Ending Explained / FAQs
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Drama, Fantasy
Subgenres: Possession, Psychological, Supernatural, Featured Teens, Female Revenge, Teens
Horror fans searching for a breakdown of Carrie (Remake) (2013) will find our review covers the plot, themes, and the shocking ending everyone talks about.
Carrie (2013) – A Modern Retelling of a Classic Horror Tragedy with Mixed Results
Carrie (2013), directed by Kimberly Peirce, reimagines Stephen King’s iconic 1974 novel and offers a fresh, though familiar, take on the tragic story of Carrie White—a shy, bullied teenage girl with a dark secret: telekinetic powers that awaken with devastating consequences. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz as the titular outcast and Julianne Moore as her fanatically religious mother, this remake attempts to modernize the original horror classic for a new generation.
While Carrie (2013) follows the same storyline that made Brian De Palma’s 1976 adaptation a genre-defining film, it struggles to capture the same emotional intensity and psychological horror. However, strong performances and updated visuals make this version worth a watch for curious horror fans and newcomers unfamiliar with the earlier versions.
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
The plot of Carrie (2013) remains faithful to its source material. Carrie White is an introverted high school senior raised by her abusive, ultra-religious mother, Margaret White. Isolated and naive, Carrie becomes the target of relentless bullying at school. After a humiliating incident in the locker room, where she experiences her first period and is mocked by her classmates, Carrie’s latent telekinetic abilities begin to surface.
Encouraged by the more sympathetic Sue Snell (Gabriella Wilde), who regrets participating in the bullying, Sue persuades her boyfriend Tommy Ross (Ansel Elgort) to take Carrie to the prom as an act of kindness. Meanwhile, Chris Hargensen (Portia Doubleday), the primary bully, plots the infamous pig’s blood prank to destroy Carrie’s brief moment of happiness.
The film explores key themes like:
Bullying and social cruelty
Religious fanaticism and psychological abuse
Female empowerment and puberty as a metaphor for power awakening
Isolation and the tragic cost of revenge
Carrie’s emotional journey from victim to vengeful force remains central, though the film’s modern updates add elements like cyberbullying to reflect contemporary issues.
Acting and Cinematography
Chloë Grace Moretz brings a sympathetic, softer portrayal of Carrie White, though some critics argue that her natural beauty and confidence make it difficult to fully sell the character’s social awkwardness and isolation. Compared to the original film’s Sissy Spacek, Moretz’s version of Carrie feels more like a misunderstood teen than an outcast on the edge of breakdown.
Julianne Moore delivers a chilling performance as Margaret White, stealing many scenes with her quiet intensity and disturbing portrayal of religious fanaticism. Moore’s interpretation leans more toward psychological horror than the explosive madness seen in previous adaptations, which adds depth to the character’s internal torment.
The cinematography by Steve Yedlin enhances the film’s modern horror aesthetic with clean, polished visuals. The prom sequence—the film’s most anticipated scene—features updated special effects, with Carrie’s powers portrayed through CGI that emphasizes her control (or lack thereof) as she unleashes chaos.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Director Kimberly Peirce, best known for Boys Don’t Cry, approaches Carrie (2013) with a focus on emotional realism, highlighting Carrie’s desire for acceptance and her struggle against oppression. However, the film often feels torn between staying loyal to the original and trying to modernize the story for today’s audience.
The updated bullying tactics (including viral video shaming) help ground the remake in the modern era, but the emotional stakes sometimes fall flat due to a lack of psychological buildup compared to De Palma’s original slow-burn tension.
Strengths:
Strong performances from Chloë Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore
Modern updates including cyberbullying themes
Visually impressive prom massacre sequence
Faithful adaptation of key plot points from the novel
Weaknesses:
Struggles to justify its existence next to the iconic 1976 version
Less effective emotional buildup leading into the climax
CGI effects occasionally feel overused or impersonal
Carrie’s portrayal leans too sympathetic, reducing the horror impact
Final Verdict & Score: 6/10
Carrie (2013) delivers a visually polished, well-acted remake of the classic horror tale but falls short of matching the emotional intensity and dread of its predecessors. While it effectively brings the story into the modern age with updated themes of cyberbullying and social shaming, the film lacks the raw psychological terror that made the original so haunting.
Fans of Stephen King adaptations and younger audiences new to the story may find it engaging, but for horror purists, the original remains the definitive version. Still, strong performances—especially from Julianne Moore—and the infamous prom scene make Carrie (2013) worth watching for those interested in different interpretations of the same tragic narrative.
Who will enjoy it:
Viewers curious about modern remakes of horror classics
Fans of psychological horror and coming-of-age tragedies
Audiences interested in Stephen King adaptations
Horror fans seeking a fresh take on the Carrie storyline
Who might be disappointed:
Hardcore fans of the 1976 original expecting the same level of dread
Viewers sensitive to CGI-heavy effects instead of practical horror
Those hoping for a bold reimagining rather than a faithful retelling
Carrie (2013) – Most Searched FAQs and Ending Explained
What is Carrie (2013) about?
Carrie (2013) is a horror drama remake of the classic 1976 film, based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. The story follows Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shy, socially awkward high school girl who suffers abuse from her fanatically religious mother, Margaret White (Julianne Moore), and relentless bullying from her classmates.
After enduring humiliation during a locker room incident—where she experiences her first period and is cruelly mocked—Carrie discovers she has telekinetic powers. When a group of classmates plans a cruel prank on her during prom night, Carrie’s emotional control snaps, and she unleashes her terrifying abilities with deadly consequences.
Is Carrie (2013) a remake or a sequel?
Carrie (2013) is a remake and modern reimagining of the 1976 horror classic directed by Brian De Palma, which itself was the first adaptation of Stephen King’s 1974 novel. The 2013 version updates certain elements for a contemporary audience, including the addition of cyberbullying and viral video humiliation, but stays largely faithful to the original storyline.
What are Carrie’s powers in Carrie (2013)?
Carrie possesses telekinesis, the supernatural ability to move, control, and manipulate objects with her mind.
Her powers are triggered by intense emotions, especially fear, humiliation, and anger.
Throughout the film, Carrie learns to control her abilities, practicing in secret before the catastrophic prom night.
The powers symbolize repressed rage and empowerment, tied directly to her coming-of-age and emotional abuse.
Why is Carrie bullied at school?
Carrie is bullied because of her naivety, social isolation, and sheltered upbringing. Raised by an abusive, ultra-religious mother who never taught her about normal bodily functions like menstruation, Carrie is ridiculed by her classmates after having her first period in the school shower.
The bullying escalates when Chris Hargensen (Portia Doubleday), the film’s primary antagonist, leads the charge against Carrie, even filming and sharing the locker room incident online, adding the element of cyberbullying to the cruelty.
Who plays Carrie and Margaret White in the 2013 remake?
Chloë Grace Moretz stars as Carrie White, portraying a more sympathetic and soft-spoken version of the character.
Julianne Moore plays Margaret White, Carrie’s abusive mother, delivering a disturbing performance that emphasizes religious obsession and psychological instability.
Their mother-daughter relationship is at the heart of the story, with Margaret’s oppressive control fueling Carrie’s inner turmoil and eventual eruption.
How is the prom scene different in Carrie (2013) compared to the 1976 original?
The infamous prom scene, where Carrie is drenched in pig’s blood, is recreated in the 2013 version with updated special effects and added focus on Carrie’s powers.
In the remake, CGI-enhanced telekinetic destruction shows Carrie levitating, crushing, and tossing people and objects with greater control than in the 1976 film.
The cyberbullying video of her locker room humiliation is also projected onto the screen at prom before the blood is dumped on her, intensifying her emotional breakdown.
While the scene remains shocking, some critics argue that the reliance on CGI removes the raw emotional terror that the practical effects brought to the original.
Why does Sue Snell feel guilty in Carrie (2013)?
Sue Snell (Gabriella Wilde), originally part of the bullying group, feels remorse after participating in Carrie’s locker room humiliation. To make amends, Sue encourages her boyfriend, Tommy Ross (Ansel Elgort), to invite Carrie to prom so she can experience acceptance and kindness.
Sue’s good intentions stand in stark contrast to Chris Hargensen’s desire for revenge, positioning Sue as one of the few sympathetic characters trying to help Carrie before tragedy strikes.
Does Carrie die at the end of Carrie (2013)?
Major Spoiler Below
Yes, Carrie dies at the end of the 2013 remake. After unleashing her telekinetic powers in a violent rage at the prom, Carrie returns home to confront her mother. Margaret White, believing Carrie is possessed by evil, attempts to kill her by stabbing her repeatedly.
In a heartbreaking moment, Carrie uses her powers to stop her mother’s heart and kill her. Overwhelmed with grief, Carrie then causes the house to collapse around them, effectively killing herself as the house burns down.
However, in the alternate ending (featured in some releases), Sue survives the destruction and is shown visiting Carrie’s grave, where Carrie’s hand bursts from the ground, hinting at a supernatural continuation.
Carrie (2013) – Ending Explained
The climax of Carrie (2013) revolves around the prom prank turning deadly. When Chris and Billy dump a bucket of pig’s blood on Carrie, the added horror of the viral video playing on the screen pushes her over the edge. Her powers fully awaken, and she seals the gym doors, using her telekinesis to slaughter classmates and teachers indiscriminately, except for those who showed her kindness.
After the destruction, Carrie flees home seeking comfort, only to face betrayal from her mother, Margaret, who views her daughter’s powers as the work of the devil. Margaret’s attempted murder of Carrie leads to her own death, as Carrie retaliates by stopping her heart with her mind.
The house collapses in flames with Carrie inside, symbolizing the tragic culmination of abuse, isolation, and revenge. In the aftermath, Sue Snell, now pregnant, serves as the story’s survivor and witness to the devastation. The film ends on a note of sorrow, underscoring the tragic cost of bullying and parental cruelty.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- Carrie (Remake) Rating Scores
- Our Score: 6/10
- Overall Score: 5.61/10
- IMDB: 5.8/10
- MetaCritic: 5.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 5.1/10
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