Mike Flanagan's Carrie Gets Mostly Warm First Reviews, but Critics Split on Whether It Was Needed
First reviews of Mike Flanagan's eight-episode Carrie for Amazon praise Summer H. Howell and its modern themes, while some critics question whether Stephen King's slim novel needed expanding.
Critics have now seen the full series, and the first reviews of Amazon's Carrie lean positive. The central question is a sharp one: does a story already adapted several times need a new, longer version? Reviewers disagree, but many say Flanagan has a clear reason for making it.
What critics are saying
Rotten Tomatoes' roundup says the first reviews "mostly say the idea was worth repeating." Praise centers on Howell's performance and on how the show updates the story for the social media age.
Alexander Zalben of Comic Book Club called it "bloody terrific" and said it "completely justifies its existence." Saloni Gajjar of AV Club wrote that Flanagan is not remaking a classic but giving it "a modern makeover befitting our digital age." Nate Richard of Collider found it imperfect but "highly addictive."
Not everyone is sold. Maria Lattila of Film Stories warned that anyone expecting a faithful take on King's story will be "sorely disappointed." Chris Evangelista of Slashfilm argued that the book, one of King's shortest, does not suit a TV approach because the story must be stretched considerably.
The case against expanding it
The Hollywood Reporter's review is the clearest statement of the debate. Its headline asks whether Carrie "really" needed expanding. The reviewer calls the novel "immaculately contained" and says Brian De Palma's 1976 film, with Sissy Spacek, adapted it perfectly on the first try.
The review still credits Flanagan for having "a very clear sense" of what he wants to say, unlike the directors of the later adaptations. It calls the show "probably the adaptation of Carrie that 2026 and the current TV landscape deserve," but finds it less distinctive and far less scary than it should be.
The series is set in the present day. Per the review, Carrie, who has been home-schooled, is sent to a public school after her father's death. Her stern, religious mother is played by Samantha Sloyan. The cast also includes Siena Agudong, Alison Thornton, Josie Totah, Arthur Conti, Amber Midthunder and Matthew Lillard.
The fan debate
Reviews are not the only conversation. The BBC reported that the stills and trailer drew criticism from some fans, mainly over casting. Several X users complained that Carrie is again played by a conventionally attractive actress, unlike King's description of a "chunky girl with pimples."
The BBC also notes that the book's Carrie is angrier and has more agency than screen versions usually show. Howell, a 22-year-old Canadian, follows Spacek, Angela Bettis (2002 TV movie) and Chloë Grace Moretz (2013 film). The BBC suggests the new version is likely to upset book purists.
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What it means for you
If you are deciding whether to watch, the reviews suggest a modernized, character-driven take rather than a faithful retelling or a purely scary one. Viewers who want the book's tone or the De Palma film's shocks may find it divisive. The series premieres on Amazon on October 7.
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